Sanofi Pasteur MSD Welcomes European Immunization Week 2014

Lyon, 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

ots Originaltext: Sanofi Pasteur MSD GmbH
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de