A group of European nations obtains 665,000 vaccine doses to combat H5 viruses as preventive action.
European countries have made a proactive move by ordering 665,000 doses of vaccines against H5 viruses amid the bird flu virus's spread among cattle in the United States. This move was announced by the EU Commission on behalf of 15 countries, who signed a contract with the British pharmaceutical company Seqirus. Out of these doses, the first ones are intended for workers at Finland's poultry farms.
Stella Kyriakides, the EU Health Commissioner, has stated that while the risk to the general population is low, they still need to protect those at higher risk. Workers in the poultry industry, agriculture, and veterinarians are some of the people who can be vaccinated.
The contract also allows for the possibility of procuring up to 40 million additional doses over the next four years. Though Finland and France have signed the contract, Germany is not among the signatories, but EU countries are free to order vaccines if they feel the need to. Stella Kyriakides has noted that they are prepared to take more measures if the situation worsens in the future.
Bird flu variant H5N1 is currently spreading in the United States, infecting not only birds but also dairy herds. While infections in people have been reported, their illnesses were mild and there's no confirmed human-to-human transmission. Last August, Finland ordered the killing of around 120,000 foxes and martens due to a bird flu outbreak.
Sources
- EU Commissions Orders 665,000 Doses of H5N1 Influenza Vaccines for 15 Members States
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- Given the spread of the Avian flu virus in the United States, other countries, such as those in Europe, are considering obtaining additional vaccine doses to protect themselves.
- The group of European nations that have procured 665,000 vaccine doses against H5 viruses includes Finland, where the first doses will be administered to poultry farm workers.
- Stella Kyriakides, the EU Health Commissioner, emphasizes the importance of vaccinating those at higher risk, including workers in the poultry industry, agriculture, and veterinarians, as a precautionary measure against H5N1 viruses.
