Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, on Tuesday announced that its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics has completed delivery of 20 million doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine ShanIPVTM to the Indian government.
The IPV doses are being supplied since December 2015. ShanIPVTM is the only IPV to be locally manufactured and provided to the Indian government, the company said in a statement.
Telangana's Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy flagged off the final shipment from Shantha Biotechnics' manufacturing site in Medchal area.
"Since 2015, Sanofi Pasteur is supporting the government's efforts to keep India polio-free with millions of doses of ShanIPVTM and Imovax Polio," said Jean-Pierre Baylet, Country Head, Sanofi Pasteur (South Asia).
"Today, every second baby in India is being vaccinated with one of the two Sanofi Pasteur's IPV."
According to the GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018, introducing at least one dose of IPV in current polio eradication programmes and completely switching from OPV to IPV in the next few years, is critical to ending polio transmission and improving immunization rates.
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"Sanofi Pasteur, through its affiliate, Shantha Biotechnics, was the first company to partner with the Indian Government, directly and via the Unicef, in supplying IPV to achieve the goal of a polio-free world," said Shailesh Ayyangar, Managing Director - India and Head - South Asia, Sanofi.
--IANS
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