Sanofi Pasteur to start shipping new flu vaccines

SWIFTWATER, Pa. – Sanofi Pasteur on Tuesday announced today that its first doses of Fluzone  for the 2016-2017 influenza season have been released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for shipment.

In the 2015-2016 influenza season, 50% of seniors who were vaccinated received Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, and this number is expected to rise to 60% in the coming season.

“There is general awareness of influenza among the public given its widespread prevalence,” stated David Greenberg, associate VP 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.”

This shipment represents the first of more than 65 million total doses of seasonal influenza vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur that will be delivered to U.S. health care providers and pharmacies beginning in July and continuing throughout the remainder of the year.

To address recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, Sanofi Pasteur has increased production of Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine where possible. Sanofi Pasteur is the sole provider of injectable influenza vaccine for pediatric patients six months through 35 months of age.

Influenza activity peaked noticeably late last season occurring in early March 2016. Influenza seasons are always unpredictable as new influenza strains emerge and strain activity fluctuates throughout the year, making timely vaccination even more important to help protect against the virus, especially for seniors, young children and infants six months of age and older.