Message #6 From:
NewsBot Date: October 5, 2006 11:19:00 AM
GSK News VIDEO from Medialink: New Flu Vaccine Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--GlaxoSmithKline [NYSE: GSK]
announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved
FluLaval(TM)[Influenza
Virus Vaccine] for the active immunization of
adults 18 years and older against influenza disease, commonly known as
the flu, caused by influenza virus types A and B contained in the
vaccine. The approval of FluLaval is another major step towards
increasing the influenza vaccine supply in the United States, following
the introduction of GSK’s Fluarix(R) [Influenza
Virus Vaccine] prior to last year’s
flu season.
Many respiratory diseases occur every winter, but the flu can be one of
the most severe. It is easily passed from one person to another through
the air by tiny droplets released when an infected individual coughs or
sneezes. Influenza is a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus
that affects five to 20 percent of the total U.S. population during each
influenza season. Each year, more than 200,000 Americans are
hospitalized and about 36,000 die from flu-related complications. Most
deaths occur in people who are 65 or older.
“While the threat of pandemic influenza
rightly has received a lot of attention, it is important to remember
that seasonal flu poses a real and serious risk to public health each
year,” said William Schaffner, MD, Chairman of
the Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of
Medicine, Nashville, TN. “Getting an annual
flu vaccine is the best way to protect against seasonal flu and its
severe complications which kill too many Americans each year.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the
single best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated each fall. Groups
who are at risk of serious complications include the very young, people
50 years of age or older, the chronically ill, and women who will be
pregnant during influenza season. Additionally, people who live with or
care for persons at high-risk of complications (including all healthcare
workers) should get vaccinated to help them stay healthy and avoid
infecting others.
The beginning, severity and length of the flu season can vary widely
from year to year. While October or November is the best time to get
vaccinated, getting the flu vaccine later can still be beneficial in
most years because influenza activity usually peaks between December and
March.
For FluLaval Prescribing Information, please call 1-888-825-5249.
Registered journalists can access video, audio, text, graphics and
photos for free and unrestricted use at http://media.medialink.com.
