GSK INTRODUCES NEW PEDIATRIC VACCINE IN SOUTH AFRICA

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has launched a new pediatric vaccine in South Africa, according to an article published a daily Cape Town-based newspaper, the Cape Argus.

The vaccine is the first six-in-one shot to become available in the country, the article says. The shot provides protection against six childhood diseases: whooping cough, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B.

The new vaccine is seen as good news for children and parents by reducing the number of injections, and healthcare providers predict better patient compliance. But the shot costs roughly $42 per injection, making it unlikely to be made available in the public health sector, according to the article.

GSK says it is a leading supplier of vaccines to the developing world through the U.N. Children's Fund. GSK pioneered tiered pricing for its vaccines, with lower pricing for the public sectors of the world's poorest countries, according to the company.