Overview

• 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.