Aventis Pasteur today announced that the company will begin shipping Fluzone(R) Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose, Influenza Virus Vaccine to customers this week. The company received Food and Drug Administration approval to market Fluzone Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose in September. For the first time, physicians will have the option of offering a preservative-free formulation of influenza vaccine to children aged six to 35 months.

"Aventis Pasteur is pleased to be able to provide Fluzone Preservative- free: Pediatric Dose to customers for the 2002-2003 influenza season," said Philip Hosbach, vice president, new products and immunization policy at Aventis Pasteur. "This is a clear demonstration of the company's dedication in meeting the changing needs of the marketplace."

Aventis Pasteur is supplying Fluzone Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose to ensure continued public confidence in influenza vaccine for young children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has issued a statement encouraging immunization of healthy children aged six to 23 months. Children in this age group are at a substantially increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations.

Children less than 9 years of age who are receiving Fluzone Preservative- free: Pediatric Dose for the first time will need a booster dose one month after the initial dose. Since influenza activity usually peaks in January through March, there is sufficient time to administer both doses before the influenza season begins.

For the 2002-2003 influenza season, Aventis Pasteur's supply of Fluzone Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose vaccine will be specially packaged for children six to 35 months of age in pre-filled syringes (in a 0.25 mL presentation). Health care providers can place orders for Fluzone Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose vaccine online at http://www.vaccineshoppe.com or by calling 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463).

Aventis: A World Leader in Pharmaceuticals

Fluzone(R) Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose, Influenza Virus Vaccine is produced and marketed by Aventis Pasteur Inc., which is located in Swiftwater, PA, and is a subsidiary of Aventis Pasteur SA. Aventis Pasteur Inc. provides the broadest range of human vaccines and biologicals commercially available from any single U.S. vaccine company. It is a leading supplier of vaccines to protect against influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, Haemophilus influenzae type b disease, meningitis, rabies, and typhoid fever.

Aventis Pasteur SA is the largest company in the world devoted entirely to vaccines. In 2001, Aventis Pasteur produced 1.3 billion doses of vaccine, making it possible to protect 500 million people across the globe, which is over one million per day. The company offers the broadest range of vaccines, providing protection against 19 bacterial and viral diseases. Based in Lyon, France, Aventis Pasteur is owned by Aventis SA.

Aventis is dedicated to improving life by treating and preventing human disease through the discovery and development of innovative prescription drugs for important therapeutic areas as well as human vaccines. In 2001, Aventis generated sales of EUR 17.7 billion, invested EUR 3 billion in research and development and employed approximately 75,000 people in its core business. Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information, please visit: http://www.aventis.com and http://www.aventispasteur.com

Statements in this news release other than historical information are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially depending on factors such as the availability of resources, the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the strength of competition, the outcome of litigation, and the effectiveness of patent protection. Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE Aventis Pasteur

US Press - Len Lavenda of Aventis Pasteur, +1-570-839-4446;
Taryn Green of Cooney Waters Group, +1-212-886-2200

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