Seqirus Donates Influenza Vaccine for Hurricane Harvey Relief in Texas
September 13 2017 - 12:00PM
Business Wire
Company Poised to Help Florida in the Wake
of Hurricane Irma
As hurricane recovery efforts continue in Texas, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has requested
urgent support to help displaced residents fight the onset of
influenza.
Seqirus, a global leader in the prevention of influenza,
announced today that it is donating 22,500 doses of influenza
vaccine to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the
appropriate state public health authority spearheading the
deployment of the donation.
The company’s donation consists of premium influenza vaccines –
a cell-based flu vaccine, manufactured in the company’s
state-of-the art Holly Springs facility in North Carolina, and an
adjuvanted vaccine specifically developed for people 65 and older.
The donation will be used in vaccination programs for people living
in local shelters.
"Our thoughts are with the thousands of people in Texas affected
by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, and we stand ready
to help Floridians as Hurricane Irma bears down on Florida,” said
Gordon Naylor, President at Seqirus. “Protecting communities from
diseases is our purpose and the reason we come to work every day.
During this difficult time, we are grateful for the people working
tirelessly on relief efforts and glad that we can make a
contribution.”
The majority of doses supplied by Seqirus were manufactured at
the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Holly Springs, North
Carolina. Seqirus built the facility in partnership with the U.S.
government with the express goal of protecting Americans from
influenza pandemics. It is the largest influenza vaccine
manufacturing facility in the country and the only site to produce
influenza vaccine using cell-based viral technology.
Influenza can lead to clinical symptoms varying from mild to
moderate respiratory illness to severe complications,
hospitalization and, in some cases, death.1 The CDC estimates that
310,000 people in the United States were hospitalized due to
influenza-related complications during the 2015-2016 influenza
season.2
“Even in normal conditions, influenza is a highly contagious
disease that can cause severe illness and life-threatening
complications,” said Russell Basser, Chief Medical Officer and
Senior Vice President of Research & Development at Seqirus. “In
the aftermath of a natural disaster of this magnitude, many people
find temporary housing and live in close quarters, which greatly
increases the risk of infection.”
“The doses of influenza vaccine donated by Seqirus will ensure
that more displaced Texans will receive preventive treatment more
quickly and effectively,” added Dr. Basser.
CSL Limited, Seqirus’ parent company, is also supporting
hurricane relief efforts through its other affiliates with a
presence in the United States. Florida-based subsidiary CSL Plasma
has made a corporate donation of $150,000 to the United Way of
Greater Houston Relief Fund. Also, for every dollar donated by an
employee, CSL will match the contribution in full.
For more information, visit www.seqirus-US.com.
About Seqirus
Seqirus is part of CSL Limited (ASX:CSL),
headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. The CSL Group of companies
employs more than 20,000 people and has operations in more than 60
countries.
Seqirus was established on 31 July 2015 following CSL’s
acquisition of the Novartis influenza vaccines business and its
subsequent integration with bioCSL. As the second largest influenza
vaccine provider in the world, Seqirus is a major contributor to
the prevention of influenza globally and a transcontinental partner
in pandemic preparedness.
Seqirus operates state-of-the-art production facilities in the
US, the UK and Australia, and manufactures influenza vaccines using
both egg-based and cell-based technologies. It has leading R&D
capabilities, a broad portfolio of differentiated products and a
commercial presence in more than 20 countries.
References
- CDC. “Key Facts About Influenza (Flu).”
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed July
2017.
- CDC. “Seasonal Influenza-Associated
Hospitalizations in the United States.” Available at:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/hospital.htm. Accessed July
2017.
Seqirus is a CSL Limited company. ASX:CSL ABN: 26 260 735
035
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For Seqirus:PadillaDani
JuriszDani.Jurisz@PadillaCo.com
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