Flu shots for farm workers amid bird flu outbreak

The CDC is hoping to vaccinate all of the nation's approximately 200,000 livestock workers during this year's flu shot season. Photo: Canva

To avoid further spread and mutation of the avian influenza virus, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to spend US$10 million to curb farm worker bird flu infections, including US$5 million for seasonal flu vaccines.

The ongoing bird flu outbreak has infected poultry flocks in nearly every US state since 2022 and more than 170 dairy herds in 13 states since March, according to the US Department of Agriculture. In addition, 13 poultry and dairy farm workers have contracted the virus in Colorado, Michigan and Texas, according to reports from the CDC. Of those cases, 9 were detected in July among workers at 2 poultry farms with bird flu in Colorado, reports Reuters.

While additional human cases are possible, the risk to the general public from bird flu remains low, according to CDC’s principal director, Nirav Shah.

Millions against the spread of the bird flu virus

Reuters further reports that US$5 million will be allocated to organisations including the National Center for Farmworker Health to educate and train workers on protecting themselves from bird flu, and another US$5 million to providing seasonal flu shots to farm workers.

Though the seasonal flu vaccine does not provide protection from bird flu, the vaccine push could reduce the risk that workers become infected with the seasonal flu and bird flu at the same time, which could lead to flu virus mutations, Shah added, further noting that the CDC is hoping to vaccinate all of the nation’s approximately 200,000 livestock workers during this year’s flu shot season and is working with states to develop plans to reach the workers.