Aventis Pasteur Statement on New Influenza Immunization Recommendations for Infants, Young Children and Their Close Contacts

Aventis Pasteur Statement on New Influenza Immunization
Recommendations for Infants, Young Children and Their Close Contacts 


SWIFTWATER, Pa., April 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Pediatric Influenza
Recommendations

Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new
recommendations that all children 6 to 23 months of age receive an annual
influenza vaccination beginning this year (2004/2005 influenza season).  In
addition, household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of all children younger
than 24 months of age are recommended to be immunized against influenza each
year.  These new recommendations are consistent with those issued by the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Family
Physicians (AAFP).

Aventis Pasteur commends the CDC as well as the AAP and AAFP for their
leadership in recommending immunization for this pediatric age group, shown to
be at an increased risk for hospitalizations due to influenza-related
complications.  Influenza is a leading cause of death in children and, along
with pneumonia, is the sixth leading cause of death in children 1 to 4 years of
age.(i)

"Immunizing children aged 6 to 23 months and their close contacts against
influenza will help reduce the high numbers of young children hospitalized each
year due to influenza-related health problems," said Michael D. Decker, MD,
MPH, vice president for scientific and medical affairs at Aventis Pasteur, the
human vaccines business of Aventis. "This is an important milestone in helping
to protect all children from the serious effects of influenza and its
complications."

In addition to the newly issued recommendations, CDC also continues to strongly
recommend annual influenza vaccination for all children 6 months of age and
older with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. Annual
vaccination is also recommended for their household contacts and out- of-home
caregivers.

Children at risk for influenza-related complications can receive influenza
vaccine at the same time they receive other routine vaccinations in preparation
for the influenza season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC).(ii)  Children younger than 9 years of age receiving influenza
vaccine for the first time require two doses, one month apart.(iii)

Pre-booking Influenza Vaccine Ends May 15 (or until supplies last)

Fluzone(R), Influenza Virus Vaccine is the only influenza vaccine licensed by
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children under 4 years of age.
 Fluzone(R) Preservative-free: Pediatric Dose, Influenza Virus Vaccine is a
preservative-free formulation, and is the only preservative-free influenza
vaccine licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for infants aged 6
through 35 months.

Aventis Pasteur is accepting prebook orders for both formulations of Fluzone
vaccine until May 15 (or until supplies last).

Prebooking is the best way to ensure customers have vaccine for the 2004- 2005
influenza season.  It is important for providers to place their orders during
the prebooking period to enable Aventis Pasteur to produce the proper amount of
influenza vaccine for the upcoming season.  Customers can place orders for
influenza vaccine via Aventis Pasteur's e-commerce Web site as well as via
phone or fax:

   * On-line: http://www.vaccineshoppe.com/ (on-line orders receive 2 percent
     savings)
   * Phone: 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463)
   * Fax: [phone]

  Safety Information


Influenza vaccine is made from killed strains of the viruses predicted to be
the main causes of influenza in the coming season.  Because the viruses are
killed, it is impossible to get influenza from the vaccine.   The most common
side effect is soreness at the vaccination site that can last up to two days.
Less common side effects are fever, malaise, myalgia, and other systemic
reactions.

Influenza vaccine should not be administered to anyone with a history of
hypersensitivity to eggs, egg products, or thimerosal.  As with any vaccine,
vaccination with Fluzone vaccine may not protect 100 percent of susceptible
individuals.  For full prescribing information, see the package insert at
http://www.us.aventispasteur.com/.

About Aventis

Aventis is dedicated to treating and preventing disease by discovering and
developing innovative prescription drugs and human vaccines. In 2003, Aventis
generated sales of euro 16.79 billion, invested euro 2.86 billion in research
and development and employed approximately 69,000 people in its core business.
Aventis corporate headquarters are in Strasbourg, France. For more information,
please visit: http://www.aventis.com/.

Aventis Pasteur, the vaccines business of Aventis, produced 1.4 billion doses
of vaccine in 2003, making it possible to protect 500 million people across the
globe, which is about 1.4 million per day. The company offers the broadest
range of vaccines, providing protection against 20 bacterial and viral
diseases. For more information, please visit: http://www.aventispasteur.com/

Aventis Forward Looking Statement

Statements in this document containing projections or estimates of revenues,
income, earnings per share, capital expenditures, capital structure, or other
financial items; plans and objectives relating to future operations, products,
or services; future economic performance; or assumptions underlying or relating
to any such statements, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and
uncertainties.  Actual results could differ materially depending on factors
such as the timing and effects of regulatory actions, the results of clinical
trials, the company's relative success developing and gaining market acceptance
for new products, the outcome of significant litigation, and the effectiveness
of patent protection.  Additional information regarding risks and uncertainties
is set forth in the current Annual Report on Form 20-F of Aventis on file with
the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the current Annual Report
-"Document de Reference"- on file with the "Autorite des marches financiers" in
France.

   (i)   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Vital
         Statistics Report, Vol. 49, No. 11, October 12, 2001.
   (ii)  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control
         of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
         Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2004;53(Early Release): 12-14.
   (iii) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and control
         of influenza: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
         Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 2004;53(Early Release): 12.

   Contact:
   Len Lavenda
   Aventis Pasteur, Inc.
   Tel.: [phone]
   

   Sarah Dumont
   Cooney/Waters Group
   Tel: [phone]
   

DATASOURCE: Aventis Pasteur, Inc.



CONTACT:  Len Lavenda of Aventis Pasteur, Inc., [phone],

; or Sarah Dumont of Cooney-Waters Group,

[phone], , for Aventis Pasteur, Inc.



Web site:  http://www.vaccineshoppe.com/

http://www.aventispasteur.com/

http://www.aventis.com/ 

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