Trump Administration Signals Shift in Bird Flu Strategy with Potential Vaccination Program

The administration is exploring alternatives to mass culling of poultry as egg prices soar and concerns grow over trade and public health risks.

The Trump administration is considering a bird flu vaccination program to reduce reliance on mass culling, which has disrupted egg supplies and raised prices by 51% in the past year.
The USDA has conditionally approved a vaccine developed by Zoetis for poultry, though it has not yet been authorized for widespread commercial use.
Farmers and industry groups are cautiously optimistic about vaccines but raise concerns about potential trade restrictions and the risk of vaccinated birds masking infections.
Over 162 million birds have been culled or killed by the virus since 2022, with public health experts warning of potential human transmission and mutation risks.
Critics argue that vaccination and biosecurity measures must be paired with improved farming practices to address long-term disease prevention effectively.