US Bolsters Bird Flu Vaccine Stockpile Amid Rising Infections

Federal funding aims to double vaccine doses as avian influenza cases in humans and livestock increase, though public risk remains low.

The US government has allocated $72 million to CSL Seqirus, Sanofi, and GSK to increase the bird flu vaccine stockpile to 10 million doses by early 2025.
Sixteen human cases of H5N1 avian influenza have been identified in the US this year, primarily among farm and poultry workers, with no human-to-human transmission reported.
Recent infections include two California dairy workers, prompting quarantine and testing measures on affected farms to control the spread.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that the risk to the general public is low, but emphasizes preparedness due to potential mutation risks.
The funding supports the 'fill and finish' process to ensure vaccines are ready for distribution if needed, with additional research on mRNA vaccine development underway.