Pfizer stops sale of children’s vaccine in China
American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has stopped selling one of its lucrative vaccines for children in China, the company said. Pfizer gave no explanation for stopping its sales of the Prevnar vaccine, which helps prevent infections such as pneumonia, which killed an estimated 935,000 children under the age of five globally in 2013, according to the World Health Organization. "Based on a careful assessment of this situation, we have decided to cease our vaccines commercial operations in China at this time, effective immediately," a spokeswoman said in an email Thursday, adding that the drug's import license had expired. Pfizer anticipates a shortage of Prevnar in China before the sale of a new vaccine can begin.
