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Sanofi pasteur will begin partial shipments to customers in August as partof the company's split delivery process, which will allow all customers tobegin immunizing patients. Vaccine shipments will continue through the falland are planned to be complete by the end of October.
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Each year, sanofi pasteur provides vaccine to hospitals and other health-care facilities; private office-based providers; retail pharmacies; communityimmunization providers; and to the military, veterans and children throughproviders' private and public vaccination programs.
As the world's leading vaccine manufacturer, sanofi pasteur producesapproximately half of the influenza vaccine distributed worldwide and morethan 40 percent of influenza vaccine distributed in the U.S. Sanofi pasteuris committed to raising immunization rates and improving global access tovaccines. As part of this commitment, the company is expanding its influenzavaccine production facility in the United States. This expansion, slated tocome on-line by the end of 2008 or in early 2009, will more than double U.S.production capacity.
Vaccination Timing
While influenza vaccination typically begins in early fall, CDC datademonstrate that influenza rates typically peak in February, making itimportant for people to seek influenza immunization throughout the fullinfluenza season. The CDC recommends that health-care providers begin offeringvaccination soon after vaccine becomes available, and continue vaccinationefforts throughout the season.(1)
Influenza Vaccine Recommendations
The CDC recommends influenza immunization for all persons who want toreduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting the virus toothers, including school-aged children. Annual vaccination is especiallyimportant for children 6 through 59 months of age, persons aged 50 years andolder, pregnant women and anyone 6 months and older with a chronic medicalcondition, such as asthma and diabetes. The vaccine also is recommended forpersons who live with or care for persons at high risk, including householdcontacts and health-care workers.(1)
About Fluzone Vaccine
Fluzone vaccine is the only influenza vaccine licensed for populations 6months and older. A Fluzone vaccine formulation (trade name: Fluzone(R),Influenza Virus Vaccine, No Preservative) that does not contain a preservativeat any stage in the manufacturing process was introduced in 2004-2005. It isthe first FDA-licensed injectable influenza vaccine to be manufactured in thisway.
The 2007-2008 influenza vaccine formulation contains an A/SolomonIslands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus; an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus;and a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus. The three strains for the newinfluenza vaccine formulation were confirmed by the Food and DrugAdministration's (FDA's) Vaccines and Related Biological Products AdvisoryCommittee in February 2007 and correspond with recommendations made by theWorld Health Organization in February. Influenza vaccine is formulated eachyear to match the strains predicted to circulate during the upcoming season.
Safety Information
There are risks associated with all vaccines. The most common local andsystemic adverse reactions to Fluzone vaccine include soreness at thevaccination
