The government wants to stockpile up to 500 million doses of vaccine in case it is needed to stop an outbreak of avian influenza this fall and winter. While it emphasized it has not decided whether to use a vaccine, the USDA is asking drug companies if they can produce the one quickly. Officials, such as USDA chief veterinarian John Clifford, say vaccines should be available as a tool to use in targeted situations if warranted.
The USDA says poultry exports worth $3 billion a year would be cut off, at least temporarily, if a vaccine is used while trading partners decide if it is effective. This year’s bird-flu epidemic was the worst to ever hit with United States, destroying 10 percent of egg-laying hens and 3 percent of annual turkey production.
As part of preparations for a potential outbreak this fall, the USDA said its animal health agency “and its state and industry partners are examining the potential use of vaccine to prevent illness in birds and interrupt the spread of the disease.” The department said it will publish in coming weeks an environmental assessment of the impact of using, or not using, a vaccine.
Earlier this summer, the USDA said it successfully tested a vaccine on chickens and was awaiting results of a trial on turkeys. It said any decision to use a vaccine would be made in conjunction with state authorities and would take into account the efficacy of the drug, the impacts of vaccine use and the effect on trade.
In a “request for proposals,” the department said it wanted to know if drug makers would produce and store at least 100 million doses – the minimum amount needed for one month – and up to 500 million doses of vaccine or vaccine precursor. “The goal is to acquire an emergency/supplementary stockpile … available for delivery anywhere in the United States within 24 hours of order by the NVS [National Veterinary Stockpile].”