U.S. Government Invests in Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Development
- The U.S. government has allocated $176 million to Moderna to speed up the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine.
- This funding is aimed at enhancing preparedness for potential influenza pandemics.
- The initiative emphasizes the government's focus on health security in the wake of recent global health crises.
The U.S. government has announced a $176 million investment in Moderna to expedite the development of a pandemic influenza vaccine aimed at combating bird flu in humans. This decision comes amid rising concerns regarding the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has recently been detected in dairy cows across the nation. Federal officials revealed the funding on Tuesday, highlighting the urgency of addressing potential health threats. Moderna is currently in the early stages of testing a bird flu vaccine that utilizes the same mRNA technology that facilitated the rapid creation of COVID-19 vaccines. The funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will support the ongoing development of this vaccine, with plans for a late-stage trial next year, contingent on positive early study results. HHS officials noted that the project could be swiftly adapted to target other influenza strains if necessary. The funding is allocated through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which specializes in developing medical treatments for potential pandemics. The H5N1 virus has been reported in over 135 herds across 12 states and has resulted in three mild human infections so far. Despite these developments, federal health officials maintain that the overall risk to the general population remains low. The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group, is responsible for this report.