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Pfizer unveils innovative ‘Bug Bus’ as part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week
18th November 2019
PP-PFE-IRL-0159
Date of preparation: November 2019
Pfizer unveils innovative ‘Bug Bus’ as part of World Antibiotic Awareness Week
Bug Bus will stop off in Dublin as part of European Pfizer tour of the main cities
Dublin, Ireland: Monday 18th November – Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, in recognition of World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), 18-24 November 2018, has announced that a ‘Bug Bus’ will visit Dublin city centre to mark the awareness week. The bus, which is part of a Global Pfizer initiative aims to educate members of the public about antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and will also visit London and Zurich during the week-long initiative. It will be located in Dublin Castle on Monday 18th and Tuesday 19th from 8am-6pm and is free and open to members of the public.
The bus, which first stop is Dublin, offers an interactive and educational experience for the general public to learn more about what they can do to help create greater antibiotic awareness. People who visit the bus can look forward to taking part in the ‘Battle the Bacteria’ interactive game, Meet the Superbug Family in the selfie area, learn more about how to #StopSuperbugs through our interactive tools and also visit our handwashing station to learn the importance of clean hands.
AMR can affect anyone, of any age, in any country. It occurs when pathogens change and find ways to resist the effects of antibiotics. The pathogens survive, grow and spread their resistance.1 This process of adaptation leads to AMR.2If no solution is found, the consequences of AMR could be devastating. Minor infections and injuries could become life-threating, and serious infections such as pneumonia could become impossible to treat. Further, many routine medical procedures could be too risky to perform because of the risk of becoming infected while in hospital by a multi-drug resistant pathogen.3
In support of World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019, Prof. Kirsten Schaffer, President Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologist, Consultant Microbiologist, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin says: “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a real threat to modern medicine and human health. Clinical Microbiologists believe that sustaining antimicrobial treatment for infections in current and future generations requires urgent multifactorial interventions by government, healthcare professionals, industry and the Irish society in general. Only if we initiate firm action now, we will be able to contain AMR.”
Speaking about Pfizer’s involvement in World Antibiotic Awareness Week, John Molony, Hospital Business Unit Lead, Pfizer Ireland said: “At Pfizer, we are driven by our desire to protect global public health and address the medical needs of people suffering from infectious diseases. We are pleased to bring the ‘Bug Bus’ to Dublin and welcome members of the public to visit and educate themselves and their families on how they can protect themselves. The ‘Bug Bus’ is accessible and the information is presented in a fun and impactful way. We look forward to continuing to collaborate closely with governments, policymakers and healthcare organizations to develop solutions and share resources to help reduce the global impact of AMR.”
Dr Nuala O Connor, GP Irish College of General Practitioners Lead Advisor Antibiotic Resistance and also added: “Unfortunately awareness of antibiotic resistance and the problem we face treating resistant infections is not as high as what it should. Therefore, it is very encouraging to see a company like Pfizer be very proactive in this space – the Bug Bus will give members of the public an opportunity to learn about antibiotic resistance and ‘superbugs’ in an interactive and informative way. I would encourage anyone in the locality to visit the Bug Bus and educate themselves about how they can help keep antibiotics working. Check out www.undertheweather.ie for tips on managing coughs cold sore throats earache and rashes without antibiotics”
As one of the leading global providers of anti-infective medicines, Pfizer is committed to working closely with the infectious disease community to address AMR, through:[i]
Active stewardship to support education efforts for both healthcare professionals and the general public, by offering training and education to raise public awareness of AMR.
Innovative surveillance tools such as the Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) database which provides physicians and the global health community with free access to critical data on the efficacy of various antibiotic treatments and emerging resistance patterns in more than 70 countries.[ii],[iii] In January 2018, the Access to Medicines Benchmark Report on AMR noted that Pfizer’s ATLAS program “stands out among all AMR surveillance programs,” as it is completely accessible to the infectious disease community.”[iv]
Global policy leadership to facilitate antibiotic and vaccine development, access and proper use, and partnering with governments and organizations to address AMR.
Expanding its diverse portfolio of anti-infective medicines and vaccines to help treat and prevent serious infections around the world. Today, Pfizer is one of the leading providers of anti-infective medicines, offering patients access to a diverse portfolio of medicines. This includes 45 antibiotics that are currently included on the WHO’s essential medicines list6and innovative vaccines.
Applying responsible manufacturing practices that minimize impact to human health and the environment.
In addition to the efforts being undertaken by the infectious disease community, there are things individuals can do every day to help prevent the development and mitigate the spread of AMR. First, don’t take any medicine, especially antibiotics, unless you need them. For example, antibiotics – which target bacteria – are ineffective in treating the common cold, which is most often caused by a virus. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, make sure to take it exactly as instructed by your doctor. Finish the course of medicine, don’t miss any doses, and don’t take medicines prescribed for someone else. Keeping up to date with your vaccinations also reduces the chance that you’ll catch an infection that needs to be treated with an antimicrobial.
For more information and additional resources on Pfizer WAAW2019 please visit our HCP website:
www.pfizerpro.ie/worldantibioticawarenessweek2019
#WAAW2019 #StopSuperbugs
[i] Pfizer Annual Review 2017. Anti-Infectives. Available at: https://www.pfizer.com/files/investors/financial_reports/annual_reports/2017/our-innovation/anti-infectives/index.html Last accessed October 2018.
[ii] Pfizer. Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance.
Available at: https://atlas-surveillance.com/ Last accessed October 2018.
[iii] AMR Industry Alliance. Case study: Pfizer - Antimicrobial Testing Leadership and Surveillance (ATLAS) Available at: https://www.amrindustryalliance.org/case-study/
antimicrobial-testing-leadership-and-surveillance-atlas/ Last accessed October 2018.
[iv] Access to Medicine Foundation. 2018 Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark report. January 2018. Available at: https://amrbenchmark.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Antimicrobial-Resistance-Benchmark-2018.pdf Last accessed October 2018.
NEW RESEARCH SHOWS 82% OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE MORE FOCUS ON SCIENCE AT PRIMARY SCHOOL
6th November 2019
Pfizer and Science Gallery partner on new initiative
#WeAreAllScientists Pop-Up Exhibtion
Location: CHQ Building, Dublin 1Dates: Sunday 10th – Sunday 17th November
Are you curious about what lives in your belly button? Can you figure out how many pumps it would take to pop a balloon? If asked to make a duck from scratch, how would you go about it? And what would the answers to these questions reveal about you? They may help you rethink what it takes to make it as a scientist.
During Science Week, the ‘We Are All Scientists’ interactive pop-up exhibition aims to challenge you to think differently about science, and yourself. The free exhibition, suitable for all ages, invites visitors to engage in five creative experiments to see if they possess the key characteristics of a scientist. The characteristics, as curated by Pfizer scientists and Science Gallery as part of the exhibition development, are; curiosity, creativity, clarity, discernment and resilience.
Taking place in the CHQ Building, this is Science Gallery’s first pop-up exhibition in the community, developed specifically for Science Week 2019 and welcomed by Science Foundation Ireland. Visitors will be guided through the interactive exhibits by Science Gallery mediators, encouraging them to get hands-on and engage with the content, ideas and themes in a variety of ways.
‘We Are All Scientists’ is a Pfizer initiative in partnership with Science Gallery. The aim of the initiative is to challenge people to think differently about science by helping to bridge the gap between the overwhelmingly positive associations with science, and the self-doubt expressed at having what it takes to study science at third level. The Science Week exhibition will highlight that we all have the characteristics of a scientist within us that we can tap in to in our daily lives.
More information here: https://dublin.sciencegallery.com/WAAS
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Pfizer 50 years in Ireland: special exhibition launches in Cork City Library
Media Release
Thursday May 30th 2019
Pfizer 50 years in Ireland: special exhibition launches in Cork City Library
Today, An Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. will officially open a special exhibition at Cork City Library celebrating 50 years since Pfizer first arrived in Ringaskiddy. The exhibition features many images from Pfizer’s archive which showcase the history of Pfizer in Ireland, the significant milestones during this time and the people behind the company.
When former Taoiseach, Jack Lynch, officially opened the site in June 1969, Pfizer Ireland employed just 16 people. Pfizer Ireland now employs 3,700 people across six sites; Ringaskiddy, Little Island, Newbridge, Grange Castle, Ringsend and City West. Pfizer contributes significantly to the Irish economy, from an initial investment of €10 million in 1969, Pfizer's total investment in Ireland now stands at €8 billion.
Commenting ahead of the official launch of the exhibition celebrating 50 years of Pfizer in Ireland An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. said “Today we are celebrating the successful partnership between Pfizer and Ireland. Over the last 50 years Pfizer has grown to be one of Ireland’s leading employers and also one of the largest pharmaceutical investors in the State. The presence of companies like Pfizer is very important to our economic success and on behalf of the government, we acknowledge and appreciate Pfizer’s continued investment in its Irish operations. I know the people of Cork and beyond will enjoy this exhibition and take pride in the story told through these special images.”
Paul Duffy, Vice President of Pfizer Global Supply, said: “We are very proud of what Pfizer has achieved in Ireland and the contribution Pfizer makes to the local and national economy. Our 3,700 colleagues based in Ireland play a key role in helping get much needed medicines to patients around the world. This is an important era in the development of the company globally – our goal is to develop medicines that transform patients lives and we currently have over 80 innovative therapies in our pipeline. ”
The Exhibition, which is part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations, has been curated by a team of Pfizer colleagues and will run at Cork City Library until 14 June. The exhibition details a pictorial journey of 50 years from the first press conference, the first staff and the milestones that have brought the business to the success story it is today. The exhibition is open to the public and is free.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Natalie Tennyson / Karen O’Keeffe, Pfizer Corporate Affairs
E: [email protected]/ [email protected]
T: 083 1271277 /086 8574291
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