Home NEWS US Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Scare

US Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Scare

US Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Scare

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed a major $590 million investment in Moderna to accelerate the development of a bird flu vaccine.

US Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Scare
US Speeds Up Development Of New Bird Flu Vaccine Amid Pandemic Fears



Written by Kinkini Gupta |Updated : January 18, 2025 10:10 PM IST

The federal government is intensifying efforts to address the rising threat of bird flu in humans. With a spike in avian influenza cases this year, officials are focusing on creating new vaccines, including mRNA-based ones, to prevent a potential pandemic.

On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) revealed a major investment of $590 million in Moderna to accelerate the development of a bird flu vaccine. This funding supplements a $176 million grant given to the company in July, highlighting the urgency of tackling this public health issue.

The vaccine is designed to target the bird flu strains currently affecting wild birds, poultry, and dairy cows. According to Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, mRNA technology offers a significant advantage due to its rapid development and flexibility.

When I think about the advantages of this technology, I think about the vulnerability that the country has in the early stages of any emerging threat,” O’Connell told US media. “Because it can be manufactured quickly, if we began to see something sweep across the country quickly, it would allow us to move fast, to give the first line of protection to the American people.”



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