FDA Releases First Doses of Sanofi Pasteur Influenza Vaccine for Shipment

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced on July 26, 2016 that the first  doses of Fluzone (influenza vaccine) for the 2016–2017 flu season have been released by FDA for shipment. The company will deliver more than 65 million doses of the seasonal influenza vaccine to the United States throughout the year, Sanofi Pasteur said in a press announcement.

Sanofi’s Fluzone vaccine includes the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which is designed specifically for people 65 years of age and older; the Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four influenza strains (two A strains and two B strains); and the Fluzone Intradermal Quadrivalent vaccine 2014 for adults 18 through 64 years of age. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone six months of age and older, with rare exception, and recommends receiving the vaccine as soon as it is available to help with prevention even before the season begins.

"There is general awareness of influenza among the public given its widespread prevalence," said David P. Greenberg, MD, associate vice-president and regional medical head North America, Sanofi Pasteur. "What is not well known is that influenza can be life-threatening and have a lasting health impact, especially for the most vulnerable populations. In the 2014–2015 season, the CDC estimated 40 million flu illnesses, 19 million flu-associated medical visits, and almost 1 million flu-associated hospitalizations."

Source: Sanofi Pasteur