US Officials To Double Stockpile Of Emergency Bird Flu Vaccines
October 07, 2024
USA Today (10/4, Cuevas) reported, “Federal officials plan to double the stockpile of emergency bird flu vaccines as they identify more people infected with the disease.” Officials said “three manufacturers were awarded $72 million to increase pandemic preparedness including against avian influenza.” The new “funding is expected to bring the country’s stockpile to 10 million doses by next spring, according to David Boucher, an infectious disease preparedness director at the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response.” According to USA Today, “the U.S. prepared the first 4.8 million doses this summer, though officials have not used them.” Reuters (10/4, Roy, Santhosh, Aboulenein) reported, “GSK, Sanofi and CSL Ltd have secured $72 million from the U.S. government to ramp up production of bird flu vaccines, a health official said.” The three “companies will use the funds to fill vials and pre-filled syringes so that doses can be ready to distribute if needed, said” Boucher.