The ABPI will represent the vaccine industry to the UK Government and healthcare stakeholders under a new deal announced this week.

The ABPI Vaccine Group has been formed to 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, AstraZeneca, GSK, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer – which all have major vaccine products on the market.

The ABPI will be replacing the now defunct lobby group UVIG, which had represented the vaccine industry for over a decade.

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.”