SWIFTWATER, Pa., Sept. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sanofi Pasteur and Actor Chris O'Donnell are teaming up to raise awareness about the seriousness of influenza and available vaccine options for adults 18 through 64 years of age, including Fluzone^® Intradermal vaccine.

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"I understand the importance of helping to protect myself against the flu, which is why I got my flu vaccination," said O'Donnell.  "When my doctor and I talked this year about what may make my experience a good one, we determined Fluzone Intradermal vaccine was the best choice for me. The device has a needle smaller than a grain of rice, which for me, made a big difference."

Despite a recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that everyone six months of age and older receive an annual influenza vaccination, on average, only a third of adults in the U.S. 18 through 64 years of age are immunized, leaving far too many unprotected and at risk for spreading the virus to those at high-risk like young children and older adults.

Results from a recent telephone survey of 663 adults revealed these low rates highlight a disconnect between fear and action, as two out of every three (67 percent) adults 18 through 64 years of age said their biggest fear regarding influenza is spreading the virus to their loved ones, yet three in five (61 percent) adults said they remain unvaccinated against the flu.

The survey also showed that 53 percent of adults 18 through 64 years of age who were vaccinated annually reported that their vaccination experience would be better if the needle was much smaller, and 65 percent said their experience would be better if access to the flu shot was more convenient.

These low immunization rates prompted star of the hit television series "NCIS Los Angeles," Chris O'Donnell, to join Sanofi Pasteur in a nationwide effort to educate adults, a sometimes overlooked population, about available vaccine options and encourage influenza immunization.

"It is important for people to remember influenza can strike anyone and that the single most important thing adults can do to help prevent getting or spreading the flu is to get their annual flu vaccination," said Carlos E. Picone, M.D., F.C.C.P., Vice-Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C.   "I encourage adults to speak with their health care provider or pharmacist to determine if vaccination is right for them and to learn more about available vaccine options."

Fluzone Intradermal vaccine is the only FDA-approved intradermal flu vaccine for adults 18 through 64 years of age in the United States. The device features an ultra-thin, 90 percent smaller needle that works just under the skin to help provide adults with the flu protection they need.

To find out where Fluzone Intradermal vaccine is available in your area, visit www.Fluzone.com or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist for more information.

About Fluzone Intradermal Coop de Quill VacciNation Tour
The Fluzone Intradermal Coop de Quill VacciNation Tour is a national initiative that aims to raise awareness about the seriousness of influenza and the various vaccine options that are available for adults this flu season.  Sanofi Pasteur and actor Chris O'Donnell are teaming up to educate adults, a sometimes overlooked population, that the single most important thing they can do to help prevent getting or spreading the flu is to get their annual vaccination.  Chris will share his personal flu vaccination experience and help to educate about this potentially deadly disease and vaccine options through various media activities this flu season. 

Additionally, the Coop de Quill VacciNation Tour is joining forces with various retail pharmacy partners to bring Fluzone Intradermal vaccine to cities across the nation. The Coop de Quill vehicle will be making a stop in five tour cities: Baltimore, Chicago, Raleigh, San Francisco, and Seattle. At each stop attendees will have the opportunity to have one-on-one discussions with clinic pharmacists to better understand the importance of annual influenza vaccination and the various vaccine options available to them.  Attendees can also get immunized with Fluzone Intradermal vaccine at a flu clinic hosted at each retailer and receive other items to help keep them healthy this flu season.

To help protect more adults from influenza, Sanofi Pasteur has donated influenza vaccine to AmeriCares as part of the campaign.  AmeriCares is a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization that works to address health care gaps globally, both in times of emergency response or as part of ongoing support for sustainable health care.  For more information about AmeriCares, visit www.americares.org.

About Influenza
Influenza is a serious respiratory illness that is easily spread and can lead to severe complications, even death. Each year in the U.S., 1 in 5 people, or up to 20 percent of the population gets the flu and an estimated 226,000 people are hospitalized from influenza-related complications. Influenza seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Depending on virus severity during the influenza season, annual deaths can range from a low of 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people. Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the nation's ninth leading cause of death. Vaccination is safe and effective and the best way to help prevent influenza and its complications.

About Fluzone Intradermal Vaccine
Fluzone Intradermal vaccine, the only FDA approved intradermal flu vaccine in the United States, is an inactivated influenza virus vaccine given to people 18 through 64 years of age for active immunization against influenza disease caused by influenza virus subtypes A and type B contained in the vaccine. The Fluzone Intradermal vaccine needle is an ultra-thin microneedle that is 90 percent smaller and only goes as deep as the skin's surface to help protect against the flu.  Smaller than a grain of rice, the microneedle includes an ultra-thin tip (1.5mm long) that has the same thickness as a U.S. penny.

Safety Information
Redness, firmness, swelling, and itching at the injection site occur more frequently with Fluzone Intradermal vaccine than with Fluzone vaccine.  Other common side effects to Fluzone Intradermal vaccine include pain, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. Side effects other than those listed above may occur. Fluzone Intradermal vaccine should not be administered to anyone with a severe allergic reaction to any vaccine component, including eggs, egg products, or to a previous dose of any influenza vaccine. Tell the doctor if you have ever experienced Guillain-Barre syndrome (severe muscle weakness) after a previous dose of influenza vaccine. If you notice any other problems or symptoms following vaccination, please contact your health care professional immediately. Vaccination with Fluzone Intradermal vaccine may not protect all individuals.

For more information about Fluzone Intradermal vaccine, talk to your health care professional and see complete Patient Information.

About The Survey
The survey results are from GfK Roper's weekly telephone omnibus service, OmniTel. Interviewing was conducted from June 1-3, 2012. A total of 1005 interviews with adults aged 18+ were completed, with 663 among the target subgroup of adults aged 18 through 64. The margin of error for this study is +/- 3 percentage points for total sample and is higher for subgroups.

This survey was sponsored by Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi.

About Sanofi
Sanofi, a global and diversified health care leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients' needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of health care with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer health care, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and similar expressions. Although Sanofi's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group's ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

Contact:

Sanofi Pasteur U.S. Media Relations
Michael Szumera
T: +1-570-957-156
Michael.Szumera@sanofipasteur.com
www.sanofipasteur.us

SOURCE Sanofi Pasteur