press release

Recognition to an American Company for its Humanitarian Assistance in Nicaragua

Friday, February 8, 2008

On Friday, February 8, U.S. Ambassador Paul Trivelli granted a special recognition to Merck Nicaragua as a finalist for the Department of State Award for Corporate Excellence 2007, “in recognition for its efforts to create public-private associations to distribute the rotavirus vaccine in Nicaragua”.  This recognition was delivered at the diplomatic building, with the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the private sector of Nicaragua.

The RotaTeq vaccine that fights the rotavirus is being distributed free of charge by Merck as part of a program in conjunction with the Minister of Health of Nicaragua for three years.  Merck is providing free doses of the oral vaccine to each kid born in Nicaragua between November 2006 and November 2009.  This is the first vaccination program of this kind. 

During the first year of operation, more than 90% of all newborn in Nicaragua have received at least the first dose, and over 80% of newborns have been vaccinated by the Ministry of Health with the three required doses.  Until now, over 300,000 doses of the rotavirus vaccine have been applied freely to kids born in Nicaragua during that period.

It is the first time that a vaccine is introduced in a developing country at the same time that is introduced in the United States, a process that historically takes between ten and fifteen years.  The start of a similar program is scheduled for this summer in Bolivia, Guyana and Honduras, as well as other countries of Central Asia.

Out of 62 candidates that work around the world, Merck was one of the nine nominees to the Award for Corporate Excellence 2007, granted every year by the Department of State, being also only one of the two nominees in Latin America.

The Secretary of State has granted the Award for Corporate Excellence since 1999 to recognize the vital role American companies play to promote good corporate leadership and democratic principles, and highlight the commitment of the Department to promote practices of corporate social responsibility that can serve as an example worldwide.