ABPI to Take Lead Role in Representing Vaccine Industry

A new ABPI Vaccine Group has been formed today and will work in partnership with the public health community to support the development and implementation of successful UK immunisation programmes. The group is made up of six members - Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, AstraZeneca, GSK, Janssen, Novartis, Pfizer.

UVIG, which has represented the vaccine industry for over a decade, has been disbanded.

Vaccinations are important because they protect the public from preventable disease, thereby helping save lives and prevent ill health whilst minimising the costs to the health service of non-immunisation. According to the World Health Organisation, vaccines help to prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year across the world that would otherwise occur without vaccination.

Stephen Whitehead, Chief Executive of the ABPI, said:

"I am delighted that the ABPI will be taking a leading role in representing the vaccines industry to Government and other healthcare stakeholders. This addition to the ABPI strengthens the unity of the bio-pharmaceutical industry and further underlines the ABPI’s position as the leading life sciences trade association in the UK. Vaccinations against disease play a vital role in improving public health and help protect us from preventable illnesses. I am immensely proud of the work pharmaceutical companies do to bring these medicines to people across the world."