Due to a pricing disagreement between the Sanofi laboratory and the health authorities, the Efluelda flu vaccine, intended for people over 65, will be withdrawn from the market.
- A vaccine produced by Sanofi, and intended for people over 65, will be withdrawn from the market.
- The laboratory denounces the price as too low, set by the health authorities.
- For the Federation of Community Pharmacists, there is a risk of supply tensions.
A flu vaccine is withdrawn from the French market. The Ministry of Health announced this in a note to pharmacists, Tuesday April 23. “We would like to inform you of the withdrawal from the market of the Efluelda® vaccine marketed by the Sanofi laboratory in the coming weeks.”specifies the document.
Flu vaccine: why is Efleulda withdrawn from the market?
In a press release, the French pharmaceutical laboratory provided the reasons for this withdrawal from the market: the price set by the health authorities is considered too low. “The authorities have decided to set its new price at a level lower than the costs of production and distribution of this vaccine.indicates the text, cited by THE World. According to Sanofi, this decision makes “impossible” making the product available in France. The company claims to have invested 50 million euros so that part of the production of the serum is maintained in France.
Withdrawal of an anti-flu vaccine: criticism from pharmacists
By way of communicated, the Federation of community pharmacists deplored the end of the marketing of the vaccine. “HAS the opposite of all our European neighbors, and as usual, the public authorities wanted to lower prices, setting them at a level lower than the laboratory’s production and distribution costsadvances the text. The consequence is as predictable as it is damaging to patients: in the absence of profitability, the marketing of this vaccine, four times higher in dose than the traditional vaccine and indicated for the people most at risk, will stop due to lack of profitability..”
Designed for people at greater risk of complications, and reserved for those over 65, the vaccine is four times more dosed than its equivalent.classic”. “We have over ten years of studies, including numerous clinical studies, demonstrating the superiority of Efluelda compared to standard dose influenza vaccines.”indicates SanofiAgence France-Presse, cited by THE World. However, the French health authorities have reservations about these conclusions.
Withdrawal from the market of an influenza vaccine: what will be the alternatives?
In its note to pharmacists, the ministry wants to be reassuring. “This decision will not affect the supply of influenza vaccines, the laboratory having committed to fully replacing pre-orders of the Efluelda® vaccine with the VaxigripTetra® vaccine., indicates the document. But health professionals fear difficulties. “Pharmacists who placed orders with Sanofi will have to find alternative products, raising the risk of supply tensions. Patients, particularly the elderly, will be deprived of the vaccine offering the best medical service, develops the press release from the Federation of Community Pharmacists. In the middle of European Vaccination Week, the message sent to patients is harmful.”
Organized every year, it will end on April 28. It is intended to promote vaccination and remind people that “constitutes the most effective means of prevention to protect against many infectious diseases which can be serious and to reduce the risk of epidemics”precise Public Health France.
