Bird flu vaccine trial against potential pandemic strain begins
Summary
The UK has started a vaccine trial against the bird flu strain H5N1, which has caused severe infections in birds and some mammals and could potentially lead to a human pandemic. The vaccine uses mRNA technology, similar to Covid-19 vaccines, allowing quick and large-scale production if needed.Key Facts
- The vaccine targets the H5N1 bird flu strain, which has infected birds worldwide and some mammals.
- Human cases are rare and mostly come from close contact with infected animals.
- The vaccine trial involves 4,000 volunteers, mainly poultry workers and people over 65, across the UK and the US.
- The vaccine uses mRNA technology, which proved effective and quick to produce during the Covid pandemic.
- The trial aims to test if the vaccine is safe and creates a strong immune response.
- If approved, vaccines would be produced at Moderna’s Harwell plant in Oxfordshire, with capacity up to 250 million doses annually in a pandemic.
- Traditional flu vaccines rely on growing viruses in eggs, which can be problematic with deadly bird flu strains; mRNA vaccines avoid this issue.
- Flu pandemics happen when new virus strains emerge to which humans have no immunity; H5N1 could be a future threat but it is not certain.
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