The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization has allocated US$667,000 for buying over 95,000 doses of vaccine against preuomococcal infections for Moldovan children. These infections cause pneumonia, meningitis and otitis. The Government contributed US$190,000 for purchasing more than 57,000 doses of vaccine.

Laura Turcan, division head at the National Public Health Center, has told IPN that during one year of the introduction of the free vaccine in Moldova, the number of preuomococcal infections among children decreased by about 1,000 cases. Approximately 67% of the children planned to be vaccinated have been immunized so far. The children are vaccinated in three stages: at 2, 4 and 12 months. They are immunized free of charge at all the state medical centers in Moldova. Until now this type of vaccine was administered for money only.

In Moldova, the pneumonias are the main cause of death among children. The vaccination is aimed at reducing the number of cases of infection and death among children by 20%.