Sanofi boosts flu vaccine production for U.S.

Sanofi-Aventis plans to increase flu vaccine production as American health officials urge more people to be inoculated.

The Paris-based company completed shipping 50 million doses and will make 3 million to 4 million more.

U.S. health officials are encouraging more Americans to get vaccines to reduce the 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations from yearly outbreaks. Companies expect to produce about 115 million doses for the U.S. market, 42% more than last year.