Singapore: Beijing government recently announced China's Sinovac Biotech as the supplier of the seasonal influenza vaccine for its 2015 vaccination campaign. The Beijing government said that it planned to order a minimum of 1.2 million doses of the seasonal flu vaccine from four manufacturers for its 2015 campaign.

Mr Weidong Yin, chairman, president and CEO of Sinovac, commented, "We are pleased to be selected once again by the Beijinggovernment to supply seasonal flu vaccines for Beijing citizens. This vaccination campaign is an important step in protecting geriatric and school-age populations from influenza."

Authorities said that the exact quantity of doses to be ordered will depend on demand during the flu season. Last year, a total of 1.37 million doses of the flu vaccine were administered, of which Sinovac supplied 400,000 doses.

Every year, the Beijing government evaluates potential suppliers on product quality, service and price, among other factors. Sinovac Biotech is a biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of vaccines that protect against human infectious diseases.

Sinovac's product portfolio includes vaccines against hepatitis A and B, seasonal influenza, H5N1 pandemic influenza (avian flu), H1N1 influenza (swine flu), mumps and canine rabies.