Sanofi Pasteur MSD Welcomes European Immunization Week 2014
France (ots/PRNewswire)
European vaccine leader hosts events across the region to help raise awareness of immunization throughout life
Sanofi Pasteur MSD welcomes the World Health Organization's European Immunization Week 2014 (EIW 2014) with a series of awareness-raising events across the region, taking place between April 22nd and 26th. Sanofi Pasteur MSD, the European leader for vaccines in Europe, has joined forces with NGOs, health care professionals to help raise awareness of the important benefits of full vaccination throughout life.
The goal of European Immunization Week is to increase vaccination coverage. Each day of the week will focus on lifelong immunization from early childhood to adolescence through to adulthood and old age.
At Sanofi Pasteur MSD, many subsidiaries will roll-out external engagement initiatives to support EIW 2014 such as: a public awareness campaign involving major basketball clubs in Spain and a UNICEF-partnered media. An informational event in the UK for the public in partnership with top university experts and local lawmakers. A parent-focused breakfast in Portugal with opinion-leading bloggers and national pediatric health experts.
At Sanofi Pasteur MSD headquarters, an internal campaign will involve all employees in supporting the European Immunization Week 2014.
"Vaccines are unquestionably one of the most cost-effective public health measures available," says Dr Jean-Paul Kress, President of Sanofi Pasteur MSD. "Wide-spread vaccination has eradicated smallpox and made Europe polio-free."
"Groundbreaking innovative science has continued to offer us new vaccines that extend protection against infectious diseases in childhood and well beyond," also notes Dr Kress. "Raising awareness - thanks to European Immunization Week is an important step towards reaching European immunization goals." concludes Dr Kress.
For further information about events on a national level across Europe, visit the WHO's dedicated campaign website: http://eiw.euro.who.int. Activities are timed to coincide with World-wide events as part of World Immunization Week, also led by the WHO: http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2014/en/ [http://www.who.int/campaigns/immunization-week/2014/en] .
About Sanofi Pasteur MSD http://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.
About European Immunization Week http://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. "Immunization for life" will be the theme of EIW 2014, to take place from 22 to 26 April. Activities in the Region will focus on all age groups - reminding parents to vaccinate their children but also underlining the importance of maintaining personal protection from preventable diseases throughout the life course.
For further information please contact: Sanofi Pasteur MSD Sylvia Martin-Jarrand Tel : +33-4-37-28-40-55 Mob : +33-6-33-46-13-65 smartin-jarrand@spmsd.com