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Sanofi ups production of high-dose flu vax
Posted 8 February 2018
Sanofi has reportedly increased production of its high-dose influenza vaccine Fluzone ahead of the PBAC's formal consideration of the shot for listing on the National Immunisation Program next month.
Australian Doctor revealed in an exclusive Sanofi had increased production of the vaccine to ensure it had sufficient quantity available for the start of the Australian flu season.
Fluzone and Seqirus' Fluad are both on the PBAC March agenda seeking NIP listing for Australians aged 65 and older. While Fluzone is a high-dose trivalent vaccine, Fluad is an adjuvant version of earlier vaccines.
Fluzone was rushed through the TGA last year, being approved in just 195 working days - 25 days less than the TGA approval average for 2017.
It is expected the PBAC will green light the vaccines following an outcry last year that more effective vaccines available overseas were not funded here and the available vaccines were ineffective.
Efficacy in older Australians was reportedly less than three per cent for all strains last year and less than 20 per cent for the A(H3N2) strain, according to estimates based on 5678 influenza-like illness cases reported by GPs in sentinel surveillance practices Australia-wide. The virus is also estimated to have contributed to more than 500 deaths.
According to Australian Doctor, the PBAC has already completed a significant portion of the cost-benefit assessments for the vaccines.
Fluzone was available in the northern hemisphere for the 2017/18 flu season. It contais four times the amount of haemagglutinin as the standard dose, protecting against two A flu strains (H3N2 and H1N1) and one B strain.
Megan Brodie
Posted 8 February 2018
Sanofi has reportedly increased production of its high-dose influenza vaccine Fluzone ahead of the PBAC's formal consideration of the shot for listing on the National Immunisation Program next month.
Australian Doctor revealed in an exclusive Sanofi had increased production of the vaccine to ensure it had sufficient quantity available for the start of the Australian flu season.
Fluzone and Seqirus' Fluad are both on the PBAC March agenda seeking NIP listing for Australians aged 65 and older. While Fluzone is a high-dose trivalent vaccine, Fluad is an adjuvant version of earlier vaccines.
Fluzone was rushed through the TGA last year, being approved in just 195 working days - 25 days less than the TGA approval average for 2017.
It is expected the PBAC will green light the vaccines following an outcry last year that more effective vaccines available overseas were not funded here and the available vaccines were ineffective.
Efficacy in older Australians was reportedly less than three per cent for all strains last year and less than 20 per cent for the A(H3N2) strain, according to estimates based on 5678 influenza-like illness cases reported by GPs in sentinel surveillance practices Australia-wide. The virus is also estimated to have contributed to more than 500 deaths.
According to Australian Doctor, the PBAC has already completed a significant portion of the cost-benefit assessments for the vaccines.
Fluzone was available in the northern hemisphere for the 2017/18 flu season. It contais four times the amount of haemagglutinin as the standard dose, protecting against two A flu strains (H3N2 and H1N1) and one B strain.
Megan Brodie
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