Health Canada approves extended use of Prevnar® 13 in adults 50 years and older

KIRKLAND, QC, - Pfizer Canada Inc. is pleased to announce Health Canada's approval of the extended use of Prevnar® 13 for active immunization for the prevention of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) (including sepsis, meningitis, bacteraemic pneumonia, pleural empyema and bacteraemia) in adults 50 years of age and older caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F.1 Prevnar® 13 is a conjugate vaccine made from the purified polysaccharides of 13 different serotypes of S. pneumoniae individually conjugated to non-toxic diphtheria cross reactive material 197 (CRM197) protein. Prevnar® 13 was first approved in December 2009 for use in children and infants from 6 weeks through 5 years of age for the active immunization against IPD caused by the serotypes of S. pneumoniae contained in the vaccine.