United States: New, next-generation mRNA vaccines, similar to COVID-19 shots, are being developed in response to the avian flu outbreak in American dairy cows. These vaccinations are being tested on both humans and animals.
Dairy Cow Vaccination Trials
The vaccination created by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania will be administered to calves by the U.S. Agriculture Department for testing starting next month. The theory behind it is that if vaccination of cows shields dairy workers, fewer opportunities exist for the virus to infect humans and evolve in ways that could promote the spread of the disease from person to person.
Human mRNA Flu Vaccine Discussions
In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been in discussions with manufacturers regarding potential human mRNA flu vaccines that may, in the event that they are required, augment the millions of doses of bird flu vaccine already in government possession.
A flu researcher at Memphis’ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Richard Webby, predicted that there would be a significant demand for vaccines in the event of a pandemic. “It is better if more diverse platforms for (vaccine manufacturing) can react to that.”
Preparedness for Virus Mutation
Since 2020, the bird flu virus has spread to more animal species in numerous nations. While it may have been in cows since December, investigators believe it was discovered in American dairy herds in March. The USDA declared this week that it has been discovered in alpacas for the very first time.
Despite the fact that the diseases were deemed moderate, at least three people—all employees of farms with infected cows—have been diagnosed with bird flu.
However, in other regions of the world, prior iterations of the same H5N1 flu virus have proven extremely deadly to humans. In case the virus mutates to become more lethal or to move more quickly between people, authorities are taking precautions to be ready.
Advancements in Vaccine Production
The majority of flu shots are traditionally produced using an egg-based method that has been in use for more than 70 years. A candidate virus is injected into fertilized chicken eggs, and the eggs are then cultured for a few days to allow the viruses to proliferate. Egg fluid is extracted and utilized for the basis of the vaccine which killed or weakened virus priming the body’s immune system.
Rather than eggs which are also very vulnerable to the the bird flu cause by the supply of constraints and some flu vaccine is made in giant vats of cells.
Challenges and Precautions
According to Hensley, the USDA study must first establish the appropriate dose for a large animal before determining whether it will protect them in the same way as it did for smaller animals.
The level of interaction between cattle and people, according to Hensley, “scares me the most.”
“We’re not discussing an animal that inhabits the peak of a mountain,” he stated. “There isn’t much of a risk to humans, but I would feel bad for the bobcats if this were a bobcat outbreak.”
“In the end, we reduce the chance that a mutant virus that spreads in humans is going to emerge,” he said, if a vaccine lowers the amount of virus in the cow.