Hyderabad - Sanofi Pasteur Monday announced the launch of its paediatric pentavalent vaccine Shan5, developed and manufactured by its affiliate Shantha here.

Shantha, a fully integrated biotechnology company involved in R and D, manufacturing and marketing, was acquired by Sanofi Pasteur Holding in 2009.

Shan5 is a fully liquid five-in-one convenient, safe and high quality vaccine that provides effective protection to children from six weeks of age against five diseases - diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B.

The launch of Shan5 vaccine received prequalification status from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in April 2014, a press release from Sanofi said.

Further, the prequalification helps Shan5 secure the supply of pentavalent combination vaccines in over 50 emerging and low-income countries, it said.

"A significant number of babies born every year in India do not have access to modern vaccination programmes. The launch of Shan5 in India means that 27 million babies born annually in India will have access to vaccination, to protect them from five potentially deadly diseases," Shantha CEO Harish Iyer said.

"By launching Shan5, Shantha will be contributing to filling the immunisation gap for the benefit of babies and their parents," he said.

As the first doses are being made available, the company has different plans to respond to needs such as public vaccination programmes and vaccination in private practice, it further said. (PTI)