Sanofi Pasteur MSD welcomes the 10 year Anniversary of European Immunization Week 2015

Lyon, France – April 20, 2015 – Sanofi Pasteur MSD welcomes the World Health Organization’s European Immunization Week 2015 (EIW 2015) with a series of awareness-raising events across the region, taking place between April 20th and 25th. Sanofi Pasteur MSD, a European leader for vaccines in Europe, has joined forces with NGOs and healthcare professionals to help raise awareness of the important benefits of full vaccination throughout life.

This year, the European Immunization Week celebrates its 10 year anniversary and focuses on the need for renewed commitment to immunization. Communication and advocacy activities will particularly focus on elimination of measles and rubella, maintaining the Region’s polio-free status, and the introduction of new vaccines.

“Vaccines are widely recognised as one of the most cost-effective healthcare investments and we must collectively respond to close the immunization gap in Europe", said Dr Jean-Paul Kress, President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD. "We are strongly committed to take part of life long immunization efforts for the benefit of Europeans at all ages", he also noted.

"Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine in use for 50 years, measles remains one of the leading causes of death and disabilities among young children, said Dr. Jean-Paul Kress, "We believe that public & private actors have to work together to ensure that no one should suffer any longer from a vaccine preventable disease", he concluded.

During the European Immunization Week 2015 all Sanofi Pasteur MSD subsidiaries and the Headquarter Office will engage with stakeholders, scientific societies and citizens through a series of events to set immunization at the center of the European health agenda.

For further information about events across Europe, visit the WHO’s dedicated campaign website: http://eiw.euro.who.int. European Immunization Week 2015 will coincide with the global World Immunization Week (WIW) campaign spearheaded by WHO headquarters. This year’s campaign focuses on closing the immunization gap and reaching equity in immunization levels as outlined in the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP).

About European Immunization Week www.eiw.euro.who.int

European Immunization Week (EIW) promotes the core message that the immunization of every child is vital to prevent diseases and protect life. The goal is to increase vaccination coverage by raising awareness of the importance of immunization.  "Renewed commitment to immunization" will be the theme of the 10th anniversary of the EIW 2015 which will be celebrated on 20–25 April.

About Sanofi Pasteur MSD www.spmsd.com

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is a European joint venture formed between Sanofi Pasteur (the vaccine division of Sanofi) and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada). Combining innovation and expertise, Sanofi Pasteur MSD is the only European pharmaceutical company dedicated exclusively to the distribution of vaccines. Sanofi Pasteur MSD makes use of the combined expertise resulting from Sanofi Pasteur and Merck’s research to focus on the development of new vaccines in Europe in order to produce the most effective, most acceptable and better tolerated vaccines.

Contact:
Sanofi Pasteur MSD
Sylvia Martin-Jarrand
Tel : +33 4 37 28 40 55
Mob : +33 6 33 46 13 65
[email protected]