Novartis starts shipping flu vaccine to U.S.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. Novartis has begun shipping its Fluvirin Influenza Virus Vaccine to the United States. This comes just days after the Food and Drug Administration, with the recommendation of the World Health Organization, approved three new strains that would be included in the influenza vaccine composition for the 2008-2009 influenza season.

The company is producing up to 40 million doses of the vaccine, with expectations of at least 20 million doses being delivered by the end of September with the remainder to be shipped by Halloween.

“As one of the largest US suppliers of influenza vaccine, providing large quantities of Fluvirin early in the season supports public health efforts to vaccinate as many people as early as possible this upcoming influenza season,” said Joerg Reinhardt, chief executive officer of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics.

Fluvirin is available for ordering for the US 2008-2009 influenza season via the company’s influenza vaccine online ordering portal, www.NovartisVaccinesDirect.com.