The development of
even more effective, easier to administer and better tolerated vaccines
Extending
vaccination coverage throughout the world requires research to improve vaccine
efficacy and the vaccination process for example, by reducing the number of
injections, or by creating new methods of administration.
Our objective is to protect the maximum number of children with a minimum
number of effective vaccinations against diseases which can be prevented
through immunization.
In 1993,
we made a major breakthrough with the licensing in Europe of the first
pentavalent vaccine. This vaccine is effective against five infantile diseases
(diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis and Haemophilus B
infections responsible for meningitis and septicemia). In October 2000, a
first fully liquid hexavalent vaccine, developed in partnership with Merck
an Co., has been registered in some European countries. This vaccine protects
children and infants against diphteria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis,
hepatitis B and Haemophilus infuenzae type b infections.
Further
developments will be under taken on this product to enablelicensing in the
international area.
Aventis
Pasteur also develops new technologies in support of its Research and
Development projects to elaborate more efficient vaccines. This includes new
adjuvants and delivery systems, live vectors (virus or bacteria), DNA vaccines
and genomics - based approaches to identify target antigens.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR
OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS
PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO
VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND
YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"