Wyeth-Lederle Prevnar

Executive Summary

Pneumococcal vaccine is expected to cost $40-$46 per dose for the public sector, a 20%-25% discount to its private sector price of $58, Wyeth tells Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices June 21. ACIP voted to include Prevnar in the Vaccines for Children program for children up to 59 months of age. Separately, ACIP revised its Prevnar use recommendation to include immunization of all children less than 23 months of age and those aged 24 to 59 months at high risk for invasive disease. Immunization with a single dose of Prevnar or PPV23 "may be considered" for children 24 to 59 months of age who are of American Indian, Alaska Native or African American descent and attend out-of-home day care. Previously, ACIP had included the children of these ethnic groups in the "recommended" category