Novartis announces partnership in vaccinations

Novartis Vaccines has today announced a national public health initiative for influenza vaccination for school children, their families and teachers.

In association with Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the company has also partnered with the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) and Flu Busters in a nationwide programme called Let’s Fight Flu Together!.

The scheme will see clinics held across the US, with children aged between six months and 18 years old able to benefit.

Joerg Reinhardt, chief executive officer of Novartis Vaccines, said: “We are fully committed to supporting public health efforts to reduce the incidence of seasonal influenza and to protecting more people against this potentially deadly disease, especially our children.”

As part of the initiative, each vaccination administered by a Flu Busters qualified health professional will see a donation made to the PTA.

Novartis Vaccines is the world’s fifth-largest vaccines business, supplying injections for influenza, diphtheria, haemophilus influenzae B, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, mumps, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough), among others.

Also specialising in the field of meningitis, the company’s vaccine have contributed to an approximate reduction of 87 per cent in the incidence of meningitis C in the UK.