South Africa Begins Introduction of PREVENAR into Childhood Immunization Program

Collegeville, Pennsylvania (ots/PRNewswire) -

- First African Nation Plans to Phase in Routine Vaccination
Program Against Pneumococcal Disease for Infants and Young Children -

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), today
announced that South Africa has initiated an immunization program
against pneumococcal disease with PREVENAR(R) (Pneumococcal
Saccharide Conjugated Vaccine, Adsorbed), a vaccine which helps
protect infants and young children against the seven vaccine
serotypes causing the majority of pneumococcal disease worldwide. The
South African government launched the pneumococcal disease
immunization program in the Eastern Cape district of Ukhahlamba last
week and has plans to expand the program nationwide by the end of
March 2009.

This historic initiative will support the United Nations'
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce child mortality in
children younger than five years of age. Including South Africa,
there are now 27 countries that have included PREVENAR in their
national immunization programs.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), pneumococcal
disease causes nearly 1.6 million deaths in children each year and is
the leading vaccine-preventable cause of death in children younger
than five years of age worldwide.

"South Africa's decision to introduce PREVENAR into the national
childhood immunization schedule will bring this potentially
life-saving vaccine to children in need," says Joseph Mahady,
President, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. "Given the documented public health
benefits that have been seen in other regions where PREVENAR is
routinely used, this announcement holds great promise for the more
than one million children born every year in South Africa."

Given the significant burden of pneumococcal disease and the
demonstrated vaccine efficacy, in March 2007, WHO recommended
priority inclusion of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in
national childhood immunization programs worldwide. Recently, the
Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) to WHO issued a
preliminary recommendation that pneumococcal disease prevention be
ranked as a very high priority on a global basis.

PREVENAR(R), the only licensed pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, is
now available in 88 countries around the world, with more than 180
million doses distributed.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease affects both children and adults and is a
leading cause of illness and death worldwide. Pneumococcal disease is
caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and describes a
group of illnesses, including invasive infections, such as
bacteremia/sepsis and meningitis, as well as pneumonia and upper
respiratory tract infections, including otitis media.

Important Safety Information for PREVENAR*

In clinical studies (n=18,168), the most frequently reported
adverse events included injection site reactions, fever (>38 degrees
C/100.4 degrees F), irritability, drowsiness, restless sleep,
decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Risks are
associated with all vaccines, including PREVENAR(R). Hypersensitivity
to any vaccine component, including diphtheria toxoid, is a
contraindication to its use. PREVENAR does not provide 100 percent
protection against vaccine serotypes or protect against nonvaccine
serotypes.

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth, has leading products
in the areas of women's health care, infectious disease,
gastrointestinal health, central nervous system, inflammation,
transplantation, hemophilia, oncology, vaccines and nutritional
products.

Wyeth is one of the world's largest research-driven
pharmaceutical and health care products companies. It is a leader in
the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of
pharmaceuticals, vaccines, biotechnology products, nutritionals and
non-prescription medicines that improve the quality of life for
people worldwide. The Company's major divisions include Wyeth
Pharmaceuticals, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare and Fort Dodge Animal
Health.

The statements in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and
uncertainties include, without limitation, the inherent uncertainty
of the timing and success of, and expense associated with, research,
development, regulatory approval and commercialization of our
products and pipeline products; government cost-containment
initiatives; restrictions on third-party payments for our products;
substantial competition in our industry, including from branded and
generic products; emerging data on our products and pipeline
products; the importance of strong performance from our principal
products and our anticipated new product introductions; the highly
regulated nature of our business; product liability, intellectual
property and other litigation risks and environmental liabilities;
uncertainty regarding our intellectual property rights and those of
others; difficulties associated with, and regulatory compliance with
respect to, manufacturing of our products; risks associated with our
strategic relationships; economic conditions including interest and
currency exchange rate fluctuations; changes in generally accepted
accounting principles; trade buying patterns; the impact of
legislation and regulatory compliance; risks and uncertainties
associated with global operations and sales; and other risks and
uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our
periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including our current reports on Form 8-K, quarterly reports on Form
10-Q and annual report on Form 10-K, particularly the discussion
under the caption "Item 1A, RISK FACTORS" in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, which was filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2008. The
forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified by
these risk factors. We assume no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future developments or otherwise.

Web site: http://www.wyeth.com

ots Originaltext: Wyeth Pharmaceuticals
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Media: Lili Gordon of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, +1-484-865-6671, or
Douglas Petkus of Wyeth, +1-973-660-5218; or Investors: Justin
Victoria of Wyeth, +1-973-660-5340