First Baby Vaccinated with Hexyon® in Europe

LYON, France, July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Germany first market in Europe to use innovative 6-in-1 paediatric vaccine

Two month old baby Ben from Mönchengladbach, Germany, is the first infant in Europe to receive the new 6-in-1 paediatric vaccine Hexyon® from Sanofi Pasteur MSD. 

Hexyon is the only fully liquid, ready-to-use, 6-in-1 vaccine to protect infants against six priority diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Hepatitis B, poliomyelitis and invasive infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. 

It has a unique advantage for healthcare professionals in that it is fully liquid (with all components in one syringe) and does not require any reconstitution, so making administration simple and secure.

Hexyon was approved by the European Commission in April this year and national recommendations and funding are being progressed in each country. Germany was granted a recommendation for the vaccine in May 2013 and vaccine supplies began arriving in June. 

Ben's paediatrician, Dr Ralph Köllges commented: "When vaccinating infants, simplicity of the process plays an important role.  Hexyon's ready-to-use syringe saves me time and minimises the risk for contamination and injury". 

Photo available: Media Room of http://www.spmsd.com

About Sanofi Pasteur MSD

Sanofi Pasteur MSD is a joint venture between Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of Sanofi, and Merck, known as MSD outside the USA and Canada. Combining innovation and expertise, Sanofi Pasteur MSD is the only company in Europe dedicated exclusively to vaccines. Sanofi Pasteur MSD is able to draw on the research expertise of Sanofi Pasteur and Merck to focus on the development of new vaccines for Europe.