Sanofi Pasteur raises polio awareness

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis group, is to raise awareness of the efforts made to eradicate polio by participating in bell-ringing events for stock exchanges across the globe. Bell-ringing is used to signify the opening and closing of a day's trading.

Sanofi said the events are to acknowledge 'past successes and future challenges in the battle to eradicate polio', with participating stock exchanges including New York, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam and Lisbon.

The company said: "Sanofi Pasteur stands shoulder to shoulder with Rotary International, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the myriad of other organisations that are engaged in this critical effort to save lives. As a pioneer and leader in the development of polio vaccine the company stands behind all efforts that will eradicate the disease."

Sanofi Pasteur has supported the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) since its launch in 1988. GPEI's spearheading partners are Rotary International, the WHO, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. The company has provided more than five billion doses of polio vaccine worldwide.