US provides $72M to vaccine manufacturers to advance bird flu shot preparedness

Federal health officials announced Friday that they will provide $72 million to vaccine manufacturers to help ensure current availability. bird flu vaccines They are ready to use, if necessary.

There are currently no recommendations for anyone in the U.S. to get vaccinated against bird flu, but U.S. Department of Health officials & Humans (HHS) noted that this is being done out of “an abundance of caution.”

The funds will allow pharmaceutical companies CSL Seqirus, Sanofi and GSK to “fill and finish,” a process for filling vaccines stored in bulk into ready-to-use vials or prefilled syringes. This will ensure that vaccines are ready to be distributed, if necessary.

“Actions taken today will improve the nation’s preparedness against novel influenza, including H5,” said David Boucher, director of infectious disease preparedness and response for the HHS Strategic Preparedness and Response Administration (ASPR), in a call with journalists. “The ability to develop and distribute vaccines quickly is essential to prepare for a public health emergency.”

HHS said the company will manufacture additional influenza antigen (the component of vaccines that stimulates an immune response) in large quantities to match the strain of bird flu currently circulating.

Health officials had previously filled nearly 5 million vaccine doses and expect the new funding to double the ready-to-use stockpile.

“We are still working on manufacturing schedules with our industry partners, but we expect to have a total of just over 10 million doses filled and finished by the end of the first quarter of calendar year 2025,” Boucher said.

Other companies, including Pfizer and Moderna, are continuing their efforts to develop an mRNA vaccine against bird flu, which is the same technology used in the companies’ respective COVID-19 vaccines.

So far this year, 16 cases of bird flu have been confirmed in the United States, but the risk of bird flu to the general public remains low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION). Those who work with potentially infected livestock are at increased risk and should take appropriate precautions.

“This ad is an illustration of the work we do at [the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response] every day to help the country prepare for and respond to disease outbreaks,” Dawn O’Connell, HHS undersecretary for preparedness and response, said in a statement. “These awards ensure the country has access to additional influenza vaccines pandemic in case they are necessary. now or in the future.”

Sanofi will also ensure it is prepared to manufacture an egg-based flu vaccine, such as a vaccine against H5 influenza, which is a strain of bird flu, if necessary.

“Although the risk of influenza A (H5) virus infection to Americans remains low, we are advancing our preparedness efforts,” said Dr. Gary Disbrow, director and deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Center for HHS Biomedical Affairs. Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) said in a statement.

“As influenza A(H5) virus infections in domestic animals continue to spread, the risk of human infection could increase. Out of an abundance of caution, we are taking steps to increase the amount of vaccine that could be immediately available if necessary,” the statement said. The statement continued.