Moderna Secures $176M to Develop mRNA Bird Flu Vaccine

Funding aims to accelerate vaccine trials amid H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cattle across multiple states.

The U.S. government awarded Moderna $176 million for late-stage development of an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine.
The H5N1 virus has spread to 136 herds in 12 states, with three human infections reported.
Federal officials emphasize that the current risk to the general public remains low.
The funding comes from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
Moderna's vaccine uses technology similar to its COVID-19 vaccine, promising rapid development and scalability.