First Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Children's Health Forum Held in Beijing with Launch of 'One Minute for a Lifetime' Initiative

Beijing, September 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In full response to the call for "lifecycle healthcare for women and children," the First Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Child Health Forum, supported by Pfizer, was grandly held in Beijing on September 7. At the event, participating experts jointly launched the "One Minute, Lifetime Protection" initiative to combat pneumococcal diseases. The initiative calls on pediatricians, child health specialists, preventive care physicians, respiratory and critical care doctors, and disease prevention and control professionals to actively participate in the "One Minute Action." By dedicating just one extra minute each day in their routine practice to educate parents about the hazards of pneumococcal diseases and their prevention and control, these healthcare providers aim to encourage parents to take proactive preventive measures for their children. This effort seeks to strengthen health education and promote the establishment of a public health collaborative framework integrating "treatment and prevention."

“One Minute, A Lifetime of Protection” InitiativeThe “One Minute, A Lifetime of Protection” initiative calls on all healthcare professionals involved in providing health and medical services to children—including pediatricians, child health specialists, preventive care physicians, pulmonologists, critical care specialists, and disease control and prevention experts—to engage in multidisciplinary collaboration and actively participate in public education campaigns on pneumococcal diseases. Through the extensive involvement of healthcare professionals, this initiative aims to enhance societal awareness of pneumococcal diseases and emphasize the importance of disease prevention, fostering the concept that “prevention is better than cure.” This will further promote disease control and vaccination efforts, helping to protect children from the threat of pneumococcal diseases.

High Incidence of Pneumococcal Infection in Children1Children under [X] years of age are the primary susceptible population

GlobalApproximately 700,000 to 1 million children under the age of 5 die from pneumococcal diseases each year, equivalent to about 2 children losing their lives to pneumococcal diseases every minute.^[1]; In the Asia-Pacific region, approximately one child dies from pneumococcal pneumonia every minute.^[2]; in China, approximately 30,000 children under the age of 5 die each year from diseases caused by pneumococcal infection, ranking sixth globally in terms of mortality.^[3]. Among all vaccine-preventable diseases, pneumococcal disease is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years of age worldwidePrimary Etiology, posing a serious threat to children's health and lives.

“Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, is widely present in the nasopharynx of healthy adults and children. It is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, with a relatively insidious mode of transmission. Once an infant’s immunity declines, S. pneumoniae can seize the opportunity to invade multiple sites in the body, causing a range of invasive or non-invasive pneumococcal diseases, such as otitis media, sinusitis, meningitis, and bacteremia.” Professor Hou Xinlin, Deputy Director of the Department of Pediatrics at Peking University First Hospital, stated, “Among pediatric pneumonia cases, S. pneumoniae is the predominant pathogen. Approximately half of severe pediatric pneumonia cases are caused by S. pneumoniae, and pneumococcal meningitis is associated with high case-fatality rates and significant sequelae. Children are the future of our nation; whether hundreds of millions of children can grow up healthily bears on the country’s prospects and social stability. As a pediatrician, I urge everyone to attach great importance to pneumococcal diseases. Taking just one extra minute to pay attention and fulfill our responsibility could protect an infant from pneumococcal infection—indeed, that single minute might even save a life.”。”

Professor Liang Weilan, Chief Physician of the Department of Pediatrics at Peking University First Hospital, stated, “The period under one year of age is a high-risk window for pneumococcal infection in children. Newborns are protected by maternal antibodies, which help ward off diseases; however, as infants grow, these maternally derived antibodies are depleted by six months of age. At this stage, the infant’s own immune system is not yet fully developed, and the lack of specific antibodies makes them highly susceptible to pneumococcal diseases. Ensuring children’s healthy growth and protecting them from disease threats is not only the responsibility of parents but also the obligation of healthcare professionals. A single vaccine dose can protect infants during their most vulnerable period. Therefore, I call upon all pediatricians present to dedicate just one minute to learning about pneumococcal diseases and actively educating parents of infants and young children on prevention strategies. This brief minute of effort can shield babies from the burden of pneumococcal diseases.”。”

Timely Vaccination: Building an Immune Barrier for Your Baby

Currently, antibiotics remain the primary treatment for pneumococcal diseases. In recent years, due to the irrational use of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae has become increasingly severe. Resistance has emerged against macrolide antibiotics, penicillin, and other agents, making the treatment of pneumococcal diseases more difficult and costly. In fact, for infants with weaker immune systems, frequent use of antibiotics not only fails to improve their condition but also subjects them to a more painful treatment process, sometimes even leading to situations where no effective treatments are available. Professor Zhang Liangfen, Deputy Director of the Healthcare Department at Beijing Haidian District Maternal and Child Health Hospital, stated, “At present, some healthcare workers still lack sufficient awareness of the serious hazards posed by pneumococcal diseases, often prioritizing treatment over prevention. For pneumococcal diseases, prevention is far more significant than treatment. Therefore, today I appeal to healthcare professionals involved in preventive care: uphold the concept that ‘prevention is better than cure,’ take an extra minute to proactively communicate the dangers of pneumococcal infections and the importance of vaccination to parents, conduct effective health education and promotion for children, contribute tangible efforts toward achieving the ‘Healthy China 2030’ goals ahead of schedule, and demonstrate the true meaning of life through action. We also hope to popularize relevant disease knowledge among the general public and raise awareness of the severe hazards associated with pneumococcal diseases.”

In the face of the serious threat posed by pneumococcal disease to children's health, as well as the issue of antibiotic resistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified pneumococcal disease as a condition for which vaccination is "of the highest priority."^[4] Timely vaccination helps build an immune barrier for infants and is one of the most effective ways to combat pediatric pneumococcal disease.

Professor Han Ying, Head of the Child Health Development Center, Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, stated, “Vaccination is the prevention and control of infectious diseases”The Most Economical, Effective, and Safe ApproachHowever, in China, public awareness—particularly among parents of young children—regarding the prevention of pneumococcal disease remains low, rendering it a forgotten killer of child health. Every passing minute sees at least one child under the age of five lose their life to pneumococcal infection, and this harsh reality continues to repeat itself. As pediatric healthcare providers, we are gladdened by children’s innocent smiles and saddened by their suffering from disease; their well-being is always at the forefront of our concerns. Today, I would also like to appeal to all child healthcare professionals present: I urge everyone to actively respond to the “One Minute•The "Guard for Life" project: Spend one extra minute to gain more knowledge and skills about pneumococcus, strive to enhance public awareness of disease prevention, and ensure every baby starts life with a healthy advantage through effective preventive measures.。”

The healthy growth of infants and young children is not only crucial to the happiness and well-being of every family, but also vital to the future of our nation and people.。“One-Minute Action”: No Time to Delay—Say “No” to Pneumococcus Together。

[1] WHO Weekly Epidemiol Rec 2007, 82: 93-104.
[2] UNIEF/WHO Pneumonia: The forgotten kiler of children, 2006 Sep.
[3] O'Brien KL, et al. Burden of disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children younger than 5 years: global estimates. Lancet. 2009; 374(9693): 893-902.
[4] WHO. Meeting of the immunization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts, November 2007 –conclusions and Recommendations. Wkly Epidemiol Rec, 2008;83:1-16.