International and Regional Experts Focus on RSV Prevention at Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready
More than 80 international and regional healthcare experts have convened at the Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready to discuss issues pertaining to maternal immunization. The summit, entitled 'RISE: Respiratory Immunization Summit for Excellence' and, held from 16-17 May 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, focused on the growing burden of neonatal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the role of maternal vaccination in its successful prevention.
The summit aimed to increase awareness of the virus and its impact, in addition to the importance of maternal immunization in preventing RSV and protecting newborns. Experts addressed the challenges and barriers to the adoption of maternal immunization, shared best practices, and explored how healthcare providers can more effectively implement maternal immunization programs in the region.
Professor Irene Cetin, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan and Head of Obstetrics, Mangiagalli Policlinico Hospital Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Milan, Italy, said: 'Maternal immunization leverages the natural pregnancy process whereby antibodies – disease-fighting molecules – pass naturally from mother to baby through the placenta, starting in the second trimester and peaking during the third. Maternal antibodies help protect infants at birth and during the first few months of life, before they are eligible to receive vaccinations themselves.'
The administration of a vaccine to an expectant mother activates the maternal immune system, triggering the production of immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies, which pass through the placenta from the parental bloodstream.
Professor Mohamed Momtaz, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, said: 'Because of the way the placenta pumps antibodies into the fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, fetal IgG concentration usually exceeds the concentration of antibodies in the maternal circulation in full-term infants, meaning the baby is better protected from infectious diseases than the mother. This highlights the tremendous potential of maternal immunization to help prevent transmission of communicable diseases and reduce the impact of infections such as RSV. Furthermore, events like this summit encourage evidence-based conversations between healthcare providers and expectant mothers, while also highlighting practical approaches to communication and appropriate data sharing.'
According to the World Health Organization, RSV – a seasonal virus that leads to infections of the lungs and respiratory tract – is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally[i], responsible for an estimated 33 million such infections, more than three million hospitalizations and almost 60,000 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age[ii]. This trend is reflected regionally, where RSV infections are the leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections in young children, typically peaking during the winter months or the rainy season in humid countries.
Professor Hossam Al Tatari, Director of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services at The Heart Medical Center, Al Ain, UAE said: 'RSV infection is very common, affecting almost all children within two years from birth. In adults and older, healthy children, RSV typically produces mild symptoms that mimic the common cold, but in the newborn babies below 6 months, and those otherwise immunocompromised, such as babies born prematurely, the infection can prove life-threatening. It is imperative that we explore every possible avenue to mitigate the risks associated with RSV, and take every step to prevent transmission, especially to the most vulnerable amongst us.'
Highlighting the benefits of maternal immunization to newborns and immunocompromised infants, Dr Hammam Haridy, Senior Director Regional Medical & Scientific Affairs at Pfizer MERA said: 'Infections such as RSV, while potentially dangerous, are preventable with vaccination. Despite the significant impact of RSV in the region and across the globe, comprehensive and consistent region-wide surveillance and burden data across the Middle East and North Africa region are currently limited. Forums such as the Maternal Immunization Summit are therefore crucial to drive buy-in of healthcare providers in order to increase awareness and tackle vaccine hesitancy. By providing a platform via which stakeholders can connect and share data and insights, we can drive the conversation around maternal vaccination, ensuring we make best use of available data in our interactions.'
Both the World Health Organization and the Strategic Group of Experts on Immunization recommend countries adopt measures to prevent severe RSV in infants[iii], with decisions on whether to use maternal immunization or monoclonal antibodies dependent upon a number of factors.
Emphasizing the need for collaboration between the medical community and vaccine developers to ensure maximum success in prevention, Merih Cetinkaya, Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences University and Head of Neonatology at Basaksehir Cam Sakura, City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, said: 'Communicable diseases such as RSV have considerable impact on neonatal health, affecting both our populations and our healthcare systems, and vaccinations remain a cornerstone in lessening this impact. As healthcare providers, we share responsibility with stakeholders across the healthcare landscape to understand such diseases, to leverage innovation and technology, and to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines, especially for the most vulnerable members of our communities.'
During the event, Pfizer underscored its ongoing commitment to shaping the future of public health through the power of vaccines. Over the years, Pfizer's vaccines have played a vital role in preventing, controlling, and in some cases nearly eradicating infectious diseases, safeguarding millions of lives around the world and across the MERA region. As a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, the company remains deeply invested in research and development, driving forward new solutions with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes and advancing global health.
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Web Release
21-05-2025
- Web Release
International and Regional Experts Focus on RSV Prevention at Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready
More than 80 international and regional healthcare experts have convened at the Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready to discuss issues pertaining to maternal immunization. The summit, entitled 'RISE: Respiratory Immunization Summit for Excellence' and, held from 16-17 May 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, focused on the growing burden of neonatal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the role of maternal vaccination in its successful prevention. The summit aimed to increase awareness of the virus and its impact, in addition to the importance of maternal immunization in preventing RSV and protecting newborns. Experts addressed the challenges and barriers to the adoption of maternal immunization, shared best practices, and explored how healthcare providers can more effectively implement maternal immunization programs in the region. Professor Irene Cetin, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan and Head of Obstetrics, Mangiagalli Policlinico Hospital Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Milan, Italy, said: 'Maternal immunization leverages the natural pregnancy process whereby antibodies – disease-fighting molecules – pass naturally from mother to baby through the placenta, starting in the second trimester and peaking during the third. Maternal antibodies help protect infants at birth and during the first few months of life, before they are eligible to receive vaccinations themselves.' The administration of a vaccine to an expectant mother activates the maternal immune system, triggering the production of immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies, which pass through the placenta from the parental bloodstream. Professor Mohamed Momtaz, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, said: 'Because of the way the placenta pumps antibodies into the fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, fetal IgG concentration usually exceeds the concentration of antibodies in the maternal circulation in full-term infants, meaning the baby is better protected from infectious diseases than the mother. This highlights the tremendous potential of maternal immunization to help prevent transmission of communicable diseases and reduce the impact of infections such as RSV. Furthermore, events like this summit encourage evidence-based conversations between healthcare providers and expectant mothers, while also highlighting practical approaches to communication and appropriate data sharing.' According to the World Health Organization, RSV – a seasonal virus that leads to infections of the lungs and respiratory tract – is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally[i], responsible for an estimated 33 million such infections, more than three million hospitalizations and almost 60,000 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age[ii]. This trend is reflected regionally, where RSV infections are the leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections in young children, typically peaking during the winter months or the rainy season in humid countries. Professor Hossam Al Tatari, Director of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services at The Heart Medical Center, Al Ain, UAE said: 'RSV infection is very common, affecting almost all children within two years from birth. In adults and older, healthy children, RSV typically produces mild symptoms that mimic the common cold, but in the newborn babies below 6 months, and those otherwise immunocompromised, such as babies born prematurely, the infection can prove life-threatening. It is imperative that we explore every possible avenue to mitigate the risks associated with RSV, and take every step to prevent transmission, especially to the most vulnerable amongst us.' Highlighting the benefits of maternal immunization to newborns and immunocompromised infants, Dr Hammam Haridy, Senior Director Regional Medical & Scientific Affairs at Pfizer MERA said: 'Infections such as RSV, while potentially dangerous, are preventable with vaccination. Despite the significant impact of RSV in the region and across the globe, comprehensive and consistent region-wide surveillance and burden data across the Middle East and North Africa region are currently limited. Forums such as the Maternal Immunization Summit are therefore crucial to drive buy-in of healthcare providers in order to increase awareness and tackle vaccine hesitancy. By providing a platform via which stakeholders can connect and share data and insights, we can drive the conversation around maternal vaccination, ensuring we make best use of available data in our interactions.' Both the World Health Organization and the Strategic Group of Experts on Immunization recommend countries adopt measures to prevent severe RSV in infants[iii], with decisions on whether to use maternal immunization or monoclonal antibodies dependent upon a number of factors. Emphasizing the need for collaboration between the medical community and vaccine developers to ensure maximum success in prevention, Merih Cetinkaya, Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences University and Head of Neonatology at Basaksehir Cam Sakura, City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, said: 'Communicable diseases such as RSV have considerable impact on neonatal health, affecting both our populations and our healthcare systems, and vaccinations remain a cornerstone in lessening this impact. As healthcare providers, we share responsibility with stakeholders across the healthcare landscape to understand such diseases, to leverage innovation and technology, and to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines, especially for the most vulnerable members of our communities.' During the event, Pfizer underscored its ongoing commitment to shaping the future of public health through the power of vaccines. Over the years, Pfizer's vaccines have played a vital role in preventing, controlling, and in some cases nearly eradicating infectious diseases, safeguarding millions of lives around the world and across the MERA region. As a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, the company remains deeply invested in research and development, driving forward new solutions with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes and advancing global health.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Zawya
International and regional experts focus on RSV prevention at Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit
The Pfizer Middle East, Russia and Africa (MERA) Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready brought together more than 80 medical experts, physicians, and healthcare professionals together in Cairo, Egypt to share insights on the latest efforts to prevent RSV in newborns The summit highlighted the critical role of maternal vaccinations in the successful prevention of RSV and shed light on global best practices for such vaccination programs. Dubai, UAE – More than 80 international and regional healthcare experts have convened at the Pfizer MERA Maternal Immunization Summit: Born Ready to discuss issues pertaining to maternal immunization. The summit, entitled 'RISE: Respiratory Immunization Summit for Excellence' and, held from 16-17 May 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, focused on the growing burden of neonatal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the role of maternal vaccination in its successful prevention. The summit aimed to increase awareness of the virus and its impact, in addition to the importance of maternal immunization in preventing RSV and protecting newborns. Experts addressed the challenges and barriers to the adoption of maternal immunization, shared best practices, and explored how healthcare providers can more effectively implement maternal immunization programs in the region. Professor Irene Cetin, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan and Head of Obstetrics, Mangiagalli Policlinico Hospital Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Milan, Italy, said: 'Maternal immunization leverages the natural pregnancy process whereby antibodies – disease-fighting molecules – pass naturally from mother to baby through the placenta, starting in the second trimester and peaking during the third. Maternal antibodies help protect infants at birth and during the first few months of life, before they are eligible to receive vaccinations themselves.' The administration of a vaccine to an expectant mother activates the maternal immune system, triggering the production of immunoglobin G (IgG) antibodies, which pass through the placenta from the parental bloodstream. Professor Mohamed Momtaz, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kasr Al Ainy Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, said: 'Because of the way the placenta pumps antibodies into the fetus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, fetal IgG concentration usually exceeds the concentration of antibodies in the maternal circulation in full-term infants, meaning the baby is better protected from infectious diseases than the mother. This highlights the tremendous potential of maternal immunization to help prevent transmission of communicable diseases and reduce the impact of infections such as RSV. Furthermore, events like this summit encourage evidence-based conversations between healthcare providers and expectant mothers, while also highlighting practical approaches to communication and appropriate data sharing.' According to the World Health Organization, RSV – a seasonal virus that leads to infections of the lungs and respiratory tract – is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children globally [i], responsible for an estimated 33 million such infections, more than three million hospitalizations and almost 60,000 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age [ii]. This trend is reflected regionally, where RSV infections are the leading cause of acute respiratory tract infections in young children, typically peaking during the winter months or the rainy season in humid countries. Professor Hossam Al Tatari, Director of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Services at The Heart Medical Center, Al Ain, UAE said: 'RSV infection is very common, affecting almost all children within two years from birth. In adults and older, healthy children, RSV typically produces mild symptoms that mimic the common cold, but in the newborn babies below 6 months, and those otherwise immunocompromised, such as babies born prematurely, the infection can prove life-threatening. It is imperative that we explore every possible avenue to mitigate the risks associated with RSV, and take every step to prevent transmission, especially to the most vulnerable amongst us.' Highlighting the benefits of maternal immunization to newborns and immunocompromised infants, Dr Hammam Haridy, Senior Director Regional Medical & Scientific Affairs at Pfizer MERA said: 'Infections such as RSV, while potentially dangerous, are preventable with vaccination. Despite the significant impact of RSV in the region and across the globe, comprehensive and consistent region-wide surveillance and burden data across the Middle East and North Africa region are currently limited. Forums such as the Maternal Immunization Summit are therefore crucial to drive buy-in of healthcare providers in order to increase awareness and tackle vaccine hesitancy. By providing a platform via which stakeholders can connect and share data and insights, we can drive the conversation around maternal vaccination, ensuring we make best use of available data in our interactions.' Both the World Health Organization and the Strategic Group of Experts on Immunization recommend countries adopt measures to prevent severe RSV in infants [iii], with decisions on whether to use maternal immunization or monoclonal antibodies dependent upon a number of factors. Emphasizing the need for collaboration between the medical community and vaccine developers to ensure maximum success in prevention, Merih Cetinkaya, Professor of Pediatrics, Health Sciences University and Head of Neonatology at Basaksehir Cam Sakura, City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, said: 'Communicable diseases such as RSV have considerable impact on neonatal health, affecting both our populations and our healthcare systems, and vaccinations remain a cornerstone in lessening this impact. As healthcare providers, we share responsibility with stakeholders across the healthcare landscape to understand such diseases, to leverage innovation and technology, and to ensure equitable access to life-saving vaccines, especially for the most vulnerable members of our communities.' During the event, Pfizer underscored its ongoing commitment to shaping the future of public health through the power of vaccines. Over the years, Pfizer's vaccines have played a vital role in preventing, controlling, and in some cases nearly eradicating infectious diseases, safeguarding millions of lives around the world and across the MERA region. As a leader in biopharmaceutical innovation, the company remains deeply invested in research and development, driving forward new solutions with the aim of enhancing patient outcomes and advancing global health. About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety, and value in the discovery, development, and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments, and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments, and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at
The National
04-04-2025
- The National
Make-up's ancient history discovered in Omani shells
Archaeological research near the Hajar Mountains in Oman has shed light on the history of cosmetics and proved there is nothing new about people wanting to enhance their appearance. A study, based on the analysis of half a dozen shells found at the Salut archaeological site, has revealed Iron Age people used black and green pigments that were kept in shells. Many of these were discovered in burial sites, indicating that the make-up may have been considered important in the afterlife. 'In the same way they were burying pots, stuff they used in daily life, maybe they were also burying them [cosmetic shells] to accompany the dead,' said first author of the study, Dr Michele Degli Esposti, from the Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures at the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw. Historically, pigments such as kohl have been regarded, not necessarily with scientific evidence, as being of medicinal value, perhaps because they were thought to prevent infection. 'It might be possible that ancient people reckoned kohl to have some curative property, so they wanted to give their dead some way to protect themselves,' Dr Degli Esposti said. 'This can just be speculation. The farther back we go in time, the more so, because you don't find literary sources.' The shells were also found around dwellings, a sign that the use of cosmetics was part and parcel of daily life. The paper 'A First Glance at Pre‐Islamic Pigments in Shells From Salut (Sultanate of Oman)' is published in Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy. Researchers looked at six cosmetic shells, three from an Iron Age settlement dated between 1300 BCE and 100 CE, and three from graves thought to be from the second or first millennium BCE. Archaeologists have found much earlier evidence for the use of cosmetics in the Middle East, with red ochre having been unearthed at a site in Umm Al Quwain dating back at least 6,000 years. Traditionally, both men and women in the region have used the black cosmetic kohl, especially around the eyes, so Dr Degli Esposti said it was possible the pigments found at Salut were used by anyone. 'Projecting what we see now in the past, we could suggest that both men and women were using it, especially if it was also endowed with medical properties,' Dr Degli Esposti said. 'It happens quite a lot that we project modern ethnographic observations into the past. Often you must be cautious with that, but in many cases it's the only way we have to build things into a broader context and into a narrative.' A central part of the research was discovering the chemical composition of the colours. The shells were sent to Italy, where researchers at the University of Milan found that the green pigments included minerals containing copper, while the black pigments had minerals containing manganese. The pigments also tend to contain calcite and quartz along with, probably, water and oil, although the recent research did not test for these. Another of the paper's authors, Prof Andrea Zerboni, of the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Milan, said the region's arid environment was good for preserving archaeological materials, including pigments. 'In this case, the pigments have been preserved thanks to the low presence of water in the sediments that hosted them, which prevented extreme alteration and the removal of the material,' he said. 'Earth science investigation techniques were used to study the mineralogical composition of the pigments and to understand how they have been preserved over time." Prof Zerboni added that the geology of the area influenced the development of the funerary landscape of the Salut region. 'It is interesting to observe how communities of the Iron Age and later periods consistently sought to take advantage of the landscape's natural forms to construct their funerary monuments, placing them on hilltops, or slopes, or associating them with large boulders present in the area,' he said. As well as looking at the pigments, the researchers who carried out the study were interested in the shells themselves, which they identified as coming from species of bivalve mollusc commonly found in the area. The paper offers initial results from a wider project that will analyse about 30 cosmetic shells from several locations, including some in the UAE, such as Tell Abraq, a site on the border of Sharjah and Umm Al Quwain where Dr Degli Esposti is currently working. Other samples in this larger follow-up study come from Siniyah Island in Umm Al Quwain and date from the sixth to the eighth centuries CE. 'This is nice because it extends the samples and also it comes closer to the modern day, which shows the continuity,' Dr Degli Esposti said.
