Sanofi Pasteur has begun large-scale production of the novel A/California/7/2009(H1N1) vaccine in our facilities in the United States and France.
     Production of the vaccine will employ egg-based technology. The dosage requirements for the vaccine will be based on clinical trials expected to take place during the summer.
     While developing our response to the novel A(H1N1) influenza strain, Sanofi Pasteur also maintains flexibility in our influenza vaccine production. The company continues to manufacture seasonal influenza vaccine for the 2009/2010 Northern Hemisphere influenza season as recommended by the WHO. Production of seasonal influenza vaccine for both Northern and Southern hemispheres is still a priority as seasonal influenza is a very serious illness, causing an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 deaths per year, according to WHO global figures.