Sanofi Pasteur to provide 1.7 billion doses of oral polio vaccine for polio eradication

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi to provide 1.7 billion doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) strategy to eradicate polio this decade. The doses of OPV will be delivered through 2017 for GPEI polio vaccination programme.

In addition to OPV campaigns, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) expert group on immunisation (SAGE) recommends that all countries introduce at least one dose of injectable inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in routine polio immunisation programmes. Sanofi Pasteur is responding to this strategy with the expansion of production capacities of IPV.

“Wiping out polio for good is in sight and Sanofi Pasteur intends to remain an active contributor to achieve zero polio,” said Olivier Charmeil, President and CEO of Sanofi Pasteur. “We believe that the introduction of IPV in routine polio immunization will consolidate the tremendous progress achieved over the last  decades and ensure a polio-free world for the future. Sanofi Pasteur has been a leading provider of polio vaccines and a supporter of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative for over 20 years. We intend to continue to be a major supporter of WHO and its partners to finish the job.”

“A strong and steady supply of polio vaccines will ensure that every child is fully protected against polio,” said John Hewko, General Secretary of the humanitarian service organisation Rotary International, a spearheading partner in the polio eradication initiative. “Sanofi Pasteur’s commitment of 1.7 billion vaccine doses comes at a crucial moment as we make the final push needed to end polio once and for all. On behalf of Rotary’s 1.2 million members worldwide, I commend and thank Sanofi Pasteur for its steadfast support.

EP News Bureau – Mumbai