News

ANNOUNCEMENT

Athens, 15 October 2015 – The Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and its member companies producing or marketing vaccines are engaging in constant and close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the National Vaccination Committee and all interested parties on the matter of the availability of certain childhood vaccines. The Association is doing its best to help address any challenges and safeguard the smooth and uninterrupted supply of childhood vaccines in our country in conformity with high quality and safety standards.

Childhood vaccine shortages are a global phenomenon, due both to the rapid rise in demand – as a result of a combination of growing world population and increasing access to vaccination coverage and health care worldwide – and the lead times necessary for developing and assessing the quality and safety of each new set of vaccines, which can be up to 2.5 years.

SFEE would like to assure the public that there is no reason for concern, as there are alternative options for the completion of vaccination, always under the guidance of the attending physician. In any event, it is a priority of SFEE and pharmaceutical companies to provide the relevant bodies with a clear picture of their current and longer-term vaccine supply capacity, so that the authorities can more safely plan for the future. SFEE and its members remain firmly committed to stand by the Greek citizens and are making every effort to restore the smooth supply of vaccines as soon as possible.