Novartis: A Swiss Drug Co. with a interest in Roche

The Associated Press January 2, 2007, 8:26AM EST text size: TT
Henry Schein starting flu vaccine orders

MELVILLE, N.Y.

Health care products distributor Henry Schein Inc. said Tuesday it will start pre-booking flu vaccine orders for next year's flu season beginning Wednesday.

The company plans to distribute about 20 million doses of flu vaccine in 2007 from major manufacturers GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Novartis AG and Sanofi-Aventis SA.

"In 2007 we expect to sell more doses of influenza vaccine than any other distributor, and to be the only company to accept pre-booking orders for flu vaccine from each of the three manufacturers of injectable flu vaccine," said Stanley M. Bergman, Henry Schein chairman and chief executive, in a statement.

In December, the company lowered its 2006 flu vaccine distribution estimates to about 9 million doses from a previous estimate of 13.5 million.