1906

October 2006 (Medialink) -- GlaxoSmithKline [NYSE: GSK] announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved FluLaval(TM) [Influenza Virus Vaccine] for the active immunization of adults 18 years and older against influenza disease, commonly known as the flu, caused by influenza virus types A and B contained in the vaccine. The approval of FluLaval is another major step towards increasing the influenza vaccine supply in the United States, following the introduction of GSK's Fluarix® [Influenza Virus Vaccine] prior to last year's flu season. Many respiratory diseases occur every winter, but the flu can be one of the most severe. It is easily passed from one person to another through the air by tiny droplets released when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Influenza is a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus that affects five to 20 percent of the total U.S. population during each influenza season. Each year, more than 200,000 Americans are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from flu-related complications. Most deaths occur in people who are 65 or older. "While the threat of pandemic influenza rightly has received a lot of attention, it is important to remember that seasonal flu poses a real and serious risk to public health each year," said William Schaffner, MD, Chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN. "Getting an annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against seasonal flu and its severe complications which kill too many Americans each year." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the single best way to prevent flu is to get vaccinated each fall. Groups who are at risk of serious complications include the very young, people 50 years of age or older, the chronically ill, and women who will be pregnant during influenza season. Additionally, people who live with or care for persons at high-risk of complications (including all healthcare workers) should get vaccinated to help them stay healthy and avoid infecting others. The beginning, severity and length of the flu season can vary widely from year to year. While October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, getting the flu vaccine later can still be beneficial in most years because influenza activity usually peaks between December and March. For FluLaval Prescribing Information, please call 1-888-825-5249. ---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Produced for GlaxoSmithKline

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