Thailand-France produce 4-in-1 vaccine

Published on February 12, 2013 by TFP   ·   No Comments

BANGKOK, 12 February 2013 – The Thai government has cooperated with a French pharmaceutical company in producing a 4-in-1 vaccine for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and hepatitis B for the first time in Thailand.

Public Health Minister Pradit Sintanawarong has revealed that the GPO-Merieux Biological Products, a joint venture of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), had signed an MOU with France’s Sanofi Pasteur, agreeing to produce the 4-in-1 vaccine in Thailand. The move is aimed at improving vaccine security in Thailand by relying less on imported vaccines.

He said local manufacturing of the vaccine will save the country nearly 2 billion baht over the next 8-10 years.

Dr Pradit stated that the cooperation helps improve the vaccine technology for newborn babies. The DTP-HB vaccine, which combines vaccines for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and hepatitis B in one, will be given to all newborns in Thailand or around 800,000 babies per year.

Under the agreement, the ministry will purchase altogether six types of vaccines from the GPO-Merieux Biological Products. They include vaccines for hepatitis B, rabies, polio, influenza, DTP-HB, and Japanese encephalitis.

(NNT: Nuttaporn Chanchokpong)

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/02/12/thailand-france-produce-4-in-1-vaccine/