"Minister Balduzzi has stigmatized the behavior of Novartis in the vaccine affair", reads a note from the ministry after the meeting between the Minister of Health, Renato Balduzzi, and a delegation from the Novartis company made up of Francesco Gulli (CEO of Novartis Vaccines), by Rino Rappuoli (global head of Novartis Vaccines research) and by Russell Thirsk (global head of production of Novartis Vaccines) at which the director of Aifa Luca Pani was present.
"The company, while reiterating that its vaccines are safe and that the efficacy of the doses is not compromised in any case - the note states -, admitted its responsibilities in relation first to the failure and then to the imperfect communication to AIFA about the checks carried out on some production lots". From Novartis, Balduzzi asked for in-depth written documentation and vaccine samples with anomalies, so that analyzes can be conducted by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The decision on the fate of the vaccines will come after the technicians of the Ministry, AIFA and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità have carried out further checks and careful study of the documentation that will arrive from Novartis.
26/10/2012 – The Republic
Sanofi Pasteur MSD, our vaccines are safe
"The Sanofi Pasteur MSD influenza vaccines can continue to be used normally as they are in no way involved in production shortages, nor in issues relating to tolerability and safety". This is what the French company reiterates, "as it already did on the occasion of the withdrawal of the Crucell vaccines", after the blocking by the health authorities of the anti-flu vaccines produced by Novartis.
For Nicoletta Luppi, CEO of Sanofi Pasteur MSD, "the current situation requires us to find innovative models so that we don't have to keep looking for temporary answers to critical situations. The time has come to enter into a new partnership between healthcare systems and producers".
"Our vaccines destined for Italy - explains Luigi Roberto Biasio, medical director of Sanofi Pasteur MSD - have been duly released by the health authorities. Regarding the situation of shortage in some Regions, the measures of the ministry have been taken to protect
