European Commission secures doses of zoonotic avian influenza vaccines

Stella Kyriakides, EU commissioner for Health and Food Safety: “While the threat of avian influenza to the general population remains low, we need to protect people at higher risk, such as poultry and farm workers or certain veterinarians.” Photo: Canva

Hundreds of thousands of doses of zoonotic influenza vaccines to prevent avian influenza have been snapped up by the European Commission as part of its mandate on preparedness.

The Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, on behalf of 15 participating member states, has signed a contract for the supply of up to 665,000 pre-pandemic doses of the vaccine Seqirus. It has also signed up to an option for a further 40 million doses over the duration of the 4-year contract. The first vaccines are due to be sent to Finland for workers at risk of exposure. Shipments to others participating nations will follow.

Potential transfers of avian influenza

The vaccine is intended for those most exposed to potential transfers of avian influenza from birds or animals, such as poultry farm workers and veterinarians. The US, Canada and the UK are also in the process of securing preventative vaccines. Although transfer is rare, it is taking place with at least 3 dairy farmers being infected in the US in recent weeks and 2 poultry workers infected in the UK last year.

Avian influenza vaccines

The US has as stockpile of flu vaccines from GSK, Sanofi and CSL Seqirus. In addition, the UK drugmaker GSK is working with the German biotech firm CureVac on a mRNA-based vaccine, although this is in its early trial stage.

The vaccine aims to prevent the spread or potential outbreaks of avian influenza in Europe, protecting citizens and livelihoods. The vaccine is the only preventative zoonotic avian influenza vaccine currently authorised in the EU.

Seqirus UK Ltd has an EU-wide modified marketing authorisation for the vaccine for use in adults, which protects against flu caused by H5 strains of the influenza A virus.

Preparedness

Commenting on the announcement, Stella Kyriakides, EU commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said it was vital that the Commission was prepared: “While the threat of avian influenza to the general population remains low, we need to protect people at higher risk, such as poultry and farm workers or certain veterinarians.

“We are ready to take further action should be situation evolve in the future. Our European Health Union serves to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, and being prepared for health threats is at the core of our work.”

Lorna Meldrum, CSL Seqirus vice-president Commercial Operations, International and Pandemic Response, said: “Vaccine access, alongside surveillance and testing, is critical for pandemic preparedness and provides reassurances to governments and their populations alike.”