Petrovax starts supplying influenza vaccines
NPO Petrovax Pharm has started supplying the Grippol® plus vaccine for anti-flu immunisation of children and pregnant women over the 2014–2015 epidemic season as part of the National Immunisation Schedule. Over 1.5m of vaccine doses have already been shipped to various Russian regions.
This year, Petrovax began the supplies earlier than usually as July to give an early start to the anti-flu immunisation programme and ensure timely and efficient health protection. By November 2014, the entire volume of above 13.5m doses of Grippol® plus will be delivered across all Russian regions.
In accordance with the order of the Russian Ministry of Health №125н of 21 March 2014 On Approval of the National Immunisation Schedule and National Immunisation Schedule in Response to Epidemic Concerns, the list of population categories subject to mandatory anti-flu vaccination has been expanded. Since 2014, additional vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, persons subject to enrolment for military service, and persons with chronic diseases. These changes are expected to ensure that throughout the 2014–2015 epidemic season flu protection is received by approximately 30% of Russian population, which is one of the highest influenza immunisation coverage rates globally.
The Grippol® plus vaccine is currently produced at Petrovax's pharmaceutical factory in the Moscow Region. Grippol is produced under Petrovax licence at the Microgen plant in Ufa and Saint Petersburg Research Institute for Vaccines and Sera and Bacterial Medicine Production Enterprise of the Federal Biomedical Agency of Russia in Saint Peterbsurg. Grippol® plus and Grippol are currently the major flu vaccines in Russia, making up 90% of the market. They have been purchased by the government since 2006 as part of the National Immunisation Schedule for mass immunisation of all social groups. Over 15 years of their use, more than 300 million people have been vaccinated.
About Grippol® plus
Grippol® plus is a Russian latest-generation preservative-free inactivated influenza vaccine of proven high performance and excellent acceptability. This predetermines its extensive use by adults and children, including infants of 6 months and older, pregnant women, people with chronic somatic diseases, including cardiovascular pathology, allergic disorders and immunodeficiency of various origins. The vaccine contains purified antigens of the latest flu strains, as recommended by the WHO for the current epidemic season. It is produced in single-dose syringes at a modern production facility in compliance with international GMP standards.
