Press Release

SAN DIEGO, Oct 10, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Booth 1208, Infectious Diseases Society of America 41st Annual Meeting -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) today launched its VaxiNet(TM) Data Management Platform, a mobile, paperless tracking system designed to help hospitals, clinics, healthcare professionals and public health agencies provide rapid and safe mass immunizations. VaxiNet can play an integral role in programs designed to manage current and emerging public health threats, ranging from influenza to smallpox. VaxiNet helps healthcare providers and public health officials to record, store, share and analyze patient data and information and more effectively plan and manage immunization programs.

"Whether the goal is to systematically provide large numbers of people with the flu vaccine or gear up quickly for a bio-terror emergency in the field, VaxiNet helps healthcare providers and public health officials effectively manage the immunization process and, in doing so, enhance the quality of care," said Gary Cohen, president, BD Medical.

How VaxiNet works

The VaxiNet Platform is a software system that manages the immunization process by organizing it into five steps:

• Enrollment and screening
• Digital signing of informed consent on a tablet PC
• Vaccine administration
• Follow-up exams and remote diary card completion, including digital imaging
• Remote analysis of adverse events and follow-up

The VaxiNet Platform can be customized for specific vaccination programs, ranging from community and worksite immunizations to bio-terror response in the field. VaxiNet allows the tracking and sharing of data, such as complication rates, in real-time, which makes it possible for healthcare providers to react immediately to problems. Trends can be shared to enhance immunization efforts nationally. In addition, VaxiNet reduces the potential for medication errors and associated risk by allowing for an informed consent process that includes checkpoints, such as on-screen patient and clinician signatures.

The VaxiNet system encrypts data transmissions and includes several data management redundancies. VaxiNet is customizable to meet health institutions' specific requirements for privacy (such as compliance with HIPAA), security and compatibility with existing infrastructure and training. Such specific needs will be addressed via strategic partnerships with leading global systems integrators, including HP.

"VaxiNet is part of BD's commitment to protecting people by supporting immunization programs worldwide," said Cohen.

About BD

BD is a medical technology company that serves healthcare institutions, life science researchers, clinical laboratories, industry and the general public. BD manufactures and sells a broad range of medical supplies, devices, laboratory equipment and diagnostic products. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, BD reported total revenues of $4.033 billion.

For more information, visit the BD Web site at www.bd.com or call the BD Consumer Services Department toll free at 1-888-BDCARES (1-888-232-2737), Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BD's news releases can be found on its website at www.bd.com . To arrange interviews with the individuals quoted in this news release, contact Karen S. Carolonza, director, Strategic Communications and Public Relations, BD Medical, at 201-847-7033 or 908-313-8398.

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements (as defined under Federal securities laws) regarding BD's performance, including future revenues, products and income, or events or developments that BD expects to occur or anticipates occurring in the future. All such statements are based upon current expectations of BD and involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from anticipated results described, implied or projected in any forward-looking statement. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to: competitive factors; pricing and market share pressures; uncertainties of litigation; BD's ability to achieve sales and earnings forecasts, which are based on sales volume and product mix assumptions, to achieve its cost savings objectives, and to achieve anticipated synergies and other cost savings in connection with acquisitions; changes in regional, national or foreign economic conditions; increases in energy costs; fluctuations in costs and availability of raw materials and in BD's ability to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships; changes in interest or foreign currency exchange rates; delays in product introductions; and changes in health care or other governmental regulation, as well as other factors discussed in this press release and in BD's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend to update any forward-looking statements.

CONTACT: Karen Carolonza of BD Public Relations, 201-847-7033, or 908-313-8398, karen_carolonza@bd.com ; or Ann Bartling of Edelman, 312-240-2619, ann.bartling@edelman.com

SOURCE BD

Karen Carolonza of BD Public Relations, +1-201-847-7033, or
+1-908-313-8398, karen_carolonza@bd.com ; or Ann Bartling of Edelman,
+1-312-240-2619, ann.bartling@edelman.com

http://www.bd.com