"Aventis Pasteur has been working for the past year to successfully end the national shortage of Td vaccine," said Michael Decker, MD, MPH, vice president, scientific and medical affairs at Aventis Pasteur. "Aventis Pasteur's efforts to relieve the shortage is an indication of the company's ability to meet the nation's need for Td vaccine now and in the future."
"With the return of ample tetanus and diphtheria vaccine supply, people who were asked to delay Td boosters during the last year should schedule appointments with their doctors to catch up," said William Schaffner, MD, professor and chairman, department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University and a national expert in infectious diseases. "Furthermore, anyone who can't remember the last time they received a Td booster should call their doctor and ask if they are due to receive a booster."
Immunization is the best way to protect against tetanus and diphtheria infection in the United States since both diseases are vaccine-preventable. Adults and adolescents require a booster shot every 10 years throughout life to maintain protection against tetanus and diptheria. Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons who have either never been vaccinated, or who completed a primary series, but have not had a booster in the preceeding 10 years . A recent study showed that less than half of Americans 20 years and older have adequate protection against both tetanus and diphtheria2.
The combination Td vaccine should be given to adults and adolescents and is not the same vaccine that is given to protect infants and children against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis as part of the childhood immunization series.
Aventis Pasteur became the primary national supplier of the tetanus and diphtheria vaccine last year when another manufacturer abruptly withdrew from the market. Since then, Aventis Pasteur increased production capacity so that it could supply the national market. During the shortage, the company worked closely with the CDC and medical organizations to ensure that tetanus vaccine always remained available for critical needs.
Health care providers can place orders for Td vaccine online at www.vaccineshoppe.com or by calling 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463).
Aventis: A World Leader in Pharmaceuticals
Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed for Adult Use is produced and marketed by Aventis Pasteur Inc., which is located in Swiftwater, PA, and is a subsidiary of Aventis Pasteur SA. Aventis Pasteur Inc. provides the broadest range of human vaccines and biologicals commercially available from any single U.S. vaccine company. It is a leading supplier of vaccines to protect against influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, meningitis, rabies, and typhoid fever.
Aventis Pasteur, a world leader in vaccines with the broadest range of products, produces more than one billion doses of vaccines every year to immunize 400 million people around the world. Aventis Pasteur, headquartered in Lyon, France, is a subsidiary of Aventis SA.
Aventis (NYSE: AVE) is dedicated to improving life by treating and preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative pharmaceutical products. Aventis focuses on prescription drugs for important therapeutic areas such as oncology, cardiology, diabetes and respiratory disorders as well as on human vaccines. In 2001, Aventis generated sales of 17.7 billion euros ($15.5 billion), invested approximately 3 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in research and development and employed approximately 75,000 people in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit: www.aventis.com.
Statements in this news release other than historical information are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such as the availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the strength of competition, the outcome of litigation, and the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
(Note to Editors: Full prescribing information is available)
US Press Contacts:
Len Lavenda
Aventis Pasteur
570-839-4446
Taryn Green
Cooney Waters Group
212-886-2200