The chicken and egg problem of fighting another flu pandemic

May 31 2024KFF Health News

It's not so funny, he said, when the currently stockpiled formulation against the H5N1 bird flu virus requires two shots and a whopping 90 micrograms of antigen, yet provides just middling immunity. "For the U.S. alone, it would take hens laying 900,000 eggs every single day for nine months," Bright said.The spread of an avian flu virus has decimated flocks of birds . Cattle in at least nine states and at least three people in the U.S.

The companies that make the cell-based influenza vaccines, CSL Seqirus and Sanofi, also have billions invested in egg-based production lines that they aren't eager to replace. And it's hard to blame them, said Nicole Lurie, HHS' assistant secretary for preparedness and response under President Barack Obama who is now an executive director of CEPI, the global epidemic-fighting nonprofit.

Pfizer and Moderna are testing seasonal influenza vaccines made with mRNA, and the government is soliciting bids for mRNA pandemic flu vaccines, said David Boucher, director of infectious disease preparedness at HHS' Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. But the vaccines currently in the national stockpile are not a perfect match for the strain in question. Even with two shots containing six times as much vaccine substance as typical flu shots, the stockpiled vaccines were only partly effective against strains of the virus that circulated when those vaccines were made, Adalja said.

Pandemic Antibodies Antigen Bird Flu Cell H5N1 Health And Human Services Immunity Influenza Manufacturing Public Health Research Technology Vaccine Virus

United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Patent Patrol: Next Shimano Di2 Could Be 13-speed, Fully Wireless, Even Electric Brakes?This Shimano Di2 patent offers a sneak peek at next-gen Dura-Ace? Fully wireless. 2x 13-speed. Interchangeable batteries. And a road clutch!
Source: bikerumor - 🏆 65. / 61 Read more »

After months in hospital, I was so drained even my neighbour didn't recognise meAndrea Kay has been a well-known figure in Thornton-Cleveleys for more than 15 years
Source: LiveLancs - 🏆 10. / 87 Read more »

This Must Be the New Red, Even SRAM Isn’t Hiding It Anymore!A new SRAM Red is almost here. We can feel it in our bones. It’s all over social media, and even SRAM isn’t hiding it anymore!
Source: bikerumor - 🏆 65. / 61 Read more »

Woman shares incredible hack for thick and even cheese slices when using a knifeThe savvy TikTok user revealed her 'game-changing' hack for cutting cheese perfectly every time – and it's all to do with a fork and knife. Since it was shared, it's gone viral online
Source: OK_Magazine - 🏆 12. / 84 Read more »

New free ChatGPT model can teach maths, sing and even flirtCalled GPT-4o, the new model was unveiled to a cheering crowd in OpenAI’s offices by chief technology officer Mira Murati.
Source: Glasgow_Times - 🏆 76. / 59 Read more »

New free ChatGPT model can teach maths, sing and even flirtCalled GPT-4o, the new model was unveiled to a cheering crowd in OpenAI’s offices by chief technology officer Mira Murati.
Source: Observer_Owl - 🏆 18. / 72 Read more »