Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, the Minister of Public Health and Population (MSPP) and the U.S. Secretary of State for Health, Katherine Sebelius, have proceeded Monday at the hospital Eliazar Germain, to the official announcement of the introduction of the new Pentavalent vaccine in the national immunization system in Haiti.

This new vaccine will fight against the five diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, pneumonia and hepatitis B. It replaces the DTP (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio) which only protected against three diseases.

"The Haitian children will receive a protection that will last all their lives," welcomed the U.S. Secretary of State for Health, who welcomed the role of countries that have provided technical assistance in this area, including Brazil.

This vaccine is available now in Haiti, through a partnership between UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, CDC GAVI and the Global Alliance for Vaccines. The cost of this program amounts to just over 11 million U.S. dollars for the next five years.

SL/ HaitiLibre