Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi-Aventis, has started shipping its Fluzone influenza vaccine in the US in anticipation of the 2010/11 flu season.
The company plans to deliver to more than 70 million doses to US healthcare providers this season.
Shipments began following marketing clearance of the 2010/11 formulation by the US Food and Drug Administration on 23 July 2010.
The first shipment will be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for use in the federal Vaccines for Children Programme.
The CDC has expanded its recommendation for annual influenza vaccination this year to include everyone six months of age and older.
Both Fluzone and Fluzone High-Dose are inactivated influenza vaccines indicated for influenza virus subtypes A and type B.
