22nd Sep 2005 06:00
Pfizer Expands Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort Pfizer Team to Assist in Distribution of Medicines; Company's Total Relief Contributions Nearly $6 Million NEW YORK, Sept. 22 -- Pfizer today announced that it has deployed a second team of experts to assist in the management of emergency medicine warehouses in Mississippi. The Pfizer team will work in partnership with local, state, and federal officials in Mississippi and with International Aid, a global relief organization. A previous group of company experts set up and managed a medicines distribution center in Louisiana. Pfizer also provided an update on its cumulative relief efforts in the Gulf States during the past three weeks. To date, Pfizer Inc, its employees and the Pfizer Foundation have contributed nearly $6 million in cash contributions as well as the donation of medicines, consumer and animal health products. "From the first hours of this catastrophic event, we have focused our response efforts on addressing the critical public health needs of the communities of the Gulf Coast," said Hank McKinnell, Pfizer chairman and chief executive officer. "Working with many partners, we will continue to mobilize the resources of our company to help victims and their families in the most constructive ways possible." Pfizer's relief effort activities include: * Providing Pfizer medicines to patients at shelters and relief sites through Pfizer hospital partners in Baton Rouge, Houston, and Dallas. * Donating anti-infective medicines and first-aid supplies, including the antibiotic Neosporin, among other consumer products. * Ensuring that patients displaced by Katrina can obtain emergency supplies of their Pfizer medicines through a pharmacy partnership program with Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, CVS, many independent pharmacies, and Argus Healthcare. * Offering up to 150 scientists from the Gulf States the use of laboratory space at Pfizer's research and development sites in Michigan. The lab space would allow researchers at colleges and universities in the Gulf States to continue important education and scientific research. * Providing products and cash from Pfizer Animal Health to Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University's veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The products are also being given to first- responder Veterinary Medical Assistance Teams. * Providing access to Pfizer medicines to Katrina victims in need and without health insurance through the Pfizer Helpful Answers program. Patients with questions about access programs should visit http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com or call 866-706-4200. "The cost of this tragedy has had a tremendous impact on the people of the Gulf as well as on the national economy," said McKinnell, who also serves as chairman of the Business Roundtable. "American corporations will be key in rebuilding the Gulf States and in helping to turn around the region's economy." SOURCE Pfizer Inc 09/22/2005 /CONTACT: Darlene Taylor of Pfizer, Inc, +1-212-733-0475/ /Company News On-Call: Pfizer's press releases are available through PR Newswire's Company News On-Call service on PRN's Web Site. Visit http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html/ /Photo: A free corporate logo to accompany this story is available immediately via Wieck Photo Database to any media with telephoto receiver or electronic darkroom, PC or Macintosh, that can accept overhead transmissions. To retrieve a logo, please call 972-392-0888./ /Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/688250.html/ /Web site: http://www.pfizer.com http://www.pfizerhelpfulanswers.com/ (PFE) ENDPFIZER INCRelated Shares:
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