PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (SANYNF, SNY) said FDA approved its supplemental biologics license application or sBLA for new four-strain influenza vaccine for broad age range of children and adults. New Fluzone Quadrivalent Influenza Virus Vaccine can be used in patients as young as six months of age and helps protect babies, adolescents and adults against additional influenza B strain.
Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine is the newest addition to the Fluzone family of influenza vaccines and includes two A strains and two B strains to help protect against influenza disease. Until now, seasonal influenza vaccines included only one B strain. Influenza B causes influenza-related morbidity and mortality and causes a substantial number of illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths in the pediatric population. According to the company, up to 44 percent of influenza-associated deaths in children and adolescents 18 years of age and younger were due to influenza B.
Fluzone Quadrivalent vaccine will be available to healthcare providers in the U.S. for the 2013-2014 influenza season in prefilled syringes and single-dose vials for intramuscular administration.
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