DHAKA, Bangladesh, June 27 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Study Shows Hib Vaccine Protects Children From Significant 
Burden of Life-Threatening Pneumonia and Meningitis

- Study Shows Hib Vaccine Could Prevent About 1/3 of Life-Threatening
Cases of Bacterial Pneumonia, the Leading Infectious Cause of Death in Asian
Children

- Findings Confirm Burden of Hib Pneumonia and Meningitis Grossly
Underestimated in Asia

- More Asian Countries Now Planning Introduction of Hib Vaccine, Others
Still Considering This Option

A new study from Bangladesh published online today in The Pediatric
Infectious Disease Journal shows that routinely vaccinating infants against
H. influenzae type b (Hib), a bacterium that causes deadly Hib pneumonia and
meningitis, could save hundreds of thousands of children in Asia. Results
showed that routine immunization of infants with a Hib conjugate vaccine
prevented over one-third of life-threatening pneumonia cases and
approximately 90% of Hib meningitis cases. A similar impact would be expected
in other parts of the region.

Although countries in Asia with high mortality rates have long known that
pneumonia and meningitis are a significant concern, many assumed that Hib was
not a major cause. This vaccine study builds the evidence of the real burden
of Hib pneumonia and meningitis as has been shown in other studies in Chile
and Indonesia, that is that the proportion of pneumonia and meningitis
prevented by the Hib conjugate vaccine is significantly higher than what can
be detected through routine surveillance.

"There has been an ongoing disagreement about the total burden
of Hib pneumonia and meningitis in Asia, but our findings provide evidence
challenging the commonly held notion that these diseases are rare in Asia,"
said Dr Abdullah Baqui, Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School
of Public Health, Baltimore, USA. "Our research shows that routine Hib
vaccination is a feasible and highly effective way of preventing death
related to Hib pneumonia and meningitis and could save the lives of a
significant number of Asian children who die under the age of five."

"Bangladesh views Hib vaccine as an integral tool in our
mission to improve child survival in Bangladesh," said Dr. Md. Abdul Quader
Mian, Deputy Director EPI and Programme Manager Child Health & LCC, Ministry
of Health, Bangladesh. "This study corroborates the evidence of previous
studies carried out in our country, which demonstrated the significant burden
of Hib pneumonia and meningitis. It also confirms the impact this vaccine can
have in preventing both death and illness as well as the permanent severe
disability caused by Hib meningitis."

The study was conducted by researchers from International
Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR, B), Dhaka Shishu
Hospital and John Hopkins University. The vaccine used in the study replaced
the routine diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine with a DTP-Hib
combination. The combination vaccine did not require additional injections or
visits to benefit from the expanded protection. Bangladesh recently applied
for funding from the GAVI Alliance to introduce a DTP-Hepatitis B-Hib
"pentavalent" combination which they hope to introduce into the routine
childhood immunization program in 2008.

Despite a growing body of evidence, only 26% of the world's
children live in countries with access to Hib vaccine. This means hundreds of
thousands of children in Asian countries are currently not benefiting from
simple, life-saving vaccine. However, based on these data and other evidence
showing the burden of Hib pneumonia and meningitis and the poor outcomes
leading to death and permanent disability, other Asian countries in addition
to Bangladesh, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan, have
also made the decision to introduce Hib and applied for support from the GAVI
Alliance.

"We are delighted that so many Asian countries are preparing
to introduce the Hib vaccine and protect their children against Hib pneumonia
and Hib meningitis" said Julian Lob-Levyt, Executive Secretary of the GAVI
Alliance. "This is a clear indication of these governments' commitment to
reduce child mortality."

The WHO recommends that all countries adopt Hib vaccine into
routine child immunization programs. They estimate that Hib globally is
responsible for 400,000 deaths each year in children under five years of age
and around 3 million cases of serious illness resulting in long term
consequences such as deafness, learning disabilities, paralysis and mental
retardation.

"This simple, life-saving vaccine can prevent Hib pneumonia
and meningitis in children, often called the 'invisible cause of forgotten
child killers' in Asia," said Dr. Kent R. Hill, Assistant Administrator,
Global Health. "Immunization programs, including Hib, are an essential
component of USAID's strategy to prevent life-threatening childhood
infections. This data is clear - Hib vaccine is an important addition to
immunization programs through out Asia. Supply studies tell us quality
manufacturers from developing countries are coming into the market very soon
and prices for this vaccine will be coming down in the very near future. Now
is the time for additional Asian countries to make this important addition to
the EPI programs. I commend the GAVI Alliance and the countries of
Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan for moving quickly to
reduce needless Hib related child deaths

Notes to Editors

Study Facts

- This was a case-control study in a birth cohort of approximately 68,000
children aged less than two years in Dhaka.

- Children were randomly assigned DTP-Hib vs. DTP vaccine,

- Cases, children confirmed as having pneumonia or meningitis, were
compared with controls, children with similar characteristics who did not
have these diseases

- Each case was matched with four community based controls on age, sex,
season and distance; each case was also matched with two hospital controls

- Vaccination status in the cases and controls was compared, in order to
determine vaccine effectiveness

- The study aimed to help Bangladesh to estimate the effectiveness of Hib
vaccine in preventing bacterial meningitis and X-ray confirmed pneumonia

- All pneumonia cases were confirmed by X-ray according to the WHO
methodology; all Hib meningitis and probable bacterial meningitis were
confirmed by laboratory tests

- The preventable fraction of X-ray confirmed pneumonia using community
and hospital controls respectively, was 34% and 44%

- The preventable fraction of confirmed Hib meningitis using community
and hospital controls was 89% and 93% respectively

- The protocol was reviewed and approved by ICDDR, B and Dhaka Shishu
Hospitals' Research and Ethics Committees.

- The study was funded by the Urban Primary Health Care
Project (UPHCP) of the Government of Bangladesh, Asian Development Bank, the
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the National
Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) of the USA. Technical assistance was provided
by WHO.

Hib Pneumonia and Hib Meningitis

The Hib bacterium is the leading cause of meningitis in
children and one of two major causes of severe childhood bacterial pneumonia.
Pneumonia and meningitis caused by other bacteria such as pneumococcus and
meningococcus (which causes meningitis only) will not be prevented by Hib
vaccine, but vaccines for these diseases will be available in the near
future.

For further information on the study partners, Hib pneumonia and
meningitis or to arrange an interview with an expert, please contact:

Dr. Serguei Diorditsa
    Medical Officer
    Immunization and Vaccine Development 
    World Health Organization Bangladesh 
    Office: +880-2-989-95-40 
    Email: diorditsas@searo.who.int
 
    Lois Privor-Dumm, MIBS
    Director, Communications Strategy 
    The Hib Initiative 
    Mobile: +1-484-354-8054 
    Email: lprivord@jhsph.edu
    Website: www.hibaction.org
 
    Ruth Landy
    Senior Programme Officer, Advocacy &
    Communications 
    The GAVI Alliance 
    Mobile: +41-79-336-3031 
    Email: rlandy@gavialliance.org 
    Website: www.gavialliance.org
 
    Georgina Pinnington
    Consultant 
    Ruder Finn Communications 
    Office: +44-20-7462-8932 
    Email: gpinnington@ruderfinn.co.uk