Sanofi Pasteur starts shipping Fluzone in USA for 2012-2013 flu season

The first lots of Fluzone vaccine have began shipping to US health care providers following Food and Drug Administration licensure of the 2012-2013 formulation, says the vaccine’s maker, Sanofi Pasteur, a unit of French drug major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN). This initial shipment represents the first of more than 60 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine the company plans to deliver to health care providers in the US this influenza season.

"This year, two new virus strains were recommended for the seasonal influenza vaccine formulation," said Chad Hoover, vice president, chief commercial officer, of Sanofi Pasteur US. "It is a tremendous logistical challenge for public health to try to immunize everyone 6 months of age and older in the few months prior to influenza season. As the supplier of nearly half of the nation's influenza vaccine, it was a critical challenge for us to be early to market so that health care providers had confidence in their supply of influenza vaccine. With the confidence of early vaccine delivery, health care providers can start immunizing sooner and commit to scheduling immunization clinics throughout the season," Mr Hoover added.