​Flu Vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur Suspended in Shanghai

Flu Vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur Suspended in Shanghai

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The Sanofi Pasteur flu vaccine has been suspended from administration in Shanghai, causing widespread concern online.

On the morning of August 27th, a call to Jiahui Medical confirmed that the hospital had received notification from the Shanghai CDC to halt the use of the Pasteur flu vaccine, though the specific reason was not disclosed. The hospital is currently awaiting further instructions from the CDC. All hospitals in Shanghai have stopped administering this vaccine, and individuals who have already received it are advised to wait for official updates.

It was noted that the Pasteur flu vaccine is widely administered in South China, with many children in Shanghai receiving the vaccine since mid-August.

In Nanjing, some community health service centers have also received notifications to stop administering the vaccine. For instance, the Qinhuai District has not yet begun its flu vaccination program, but certain centers in the Xuanwu District had started before being instructed on August 27th to cease using the Pasteur flu vaccine.

Sanofi, the manufacturer of the Pasteur flu vaccine, responded to media inquiries by explaining that their ongoing stability assessments for the 2024-2025 flu season revealed a declining trend in the vaccine's potency. This decline could potentially affect the vaccine's effectiveness before its expiration date. As a preventive measure, Sanofi decided to temporarily halt the supply and sale of these vaccines in China.

Sanofi emphasized that the flu vaccines currently on the market have passed all regulatory approvals, adhere to legal standards, and show no evidence of compromised safety or effectiveness. The decision to suspend the vaccines was made purely as a precautionary measure.

On August 28th, the Shanghai CDC announced that the city's flu vaccine procurement began in July, with sufficient supplies available at all vaccination clinics for the 2024-2025 season. Citizens can make vaccination appointments through various online platforms.

The CDC further clarified that Shenzhen Sanofi Pasteur Biologics Co., Ltd. has voluntarily decided to suspend the supply and use of the flu vaccine for the 2024-2025 season, initiating a product recall process. All vaccination centers in Shanghai have complied with this suspension.

Vaccine potency is a measure of a vaccine's ability to induce an immune response, which directly correlates to its effectiveness. A lower-than-standard potency indicates reduced effectiveness but does not compromise the vaccine's safety. Even if a vaccine's potency declines, it may still provide some level of protection, and individual responses to vaccines can vary. 

Source: 新民晚报, 上海疾控

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