Prevnar in steady supply, insists Wyeth

Supply shortages of pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar are due to a lack of awareness and education among local physicians and not supply-chain issues, according to a senior representative of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

Dr Mohamed Samir, public affairs manager, Middle East and North Africa, responded to rumours of shortages by questioning private-sector paediatricians' knowledge of the pneumococcal drug.

"It is up to the paedatrician at private facilities whether it is needed or not and most of the paedatricians have it now," said Samir. "It really depends whether this paedatrician has had access to information about Prevnar - is he aware that the medicine is registered and available in the UAE?"

Samir conceded that it was also the responsibility of the pharmaceutical company to ensure the vaccine was making it to market.

"Perhaps it is because of our rep not visiting, or that he has visited and it was not successful, but there are no problems with the supply of Prevnar at the moment."

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