U.S. to make millions of avian flu vaccines this summer
As the H5N1 avian flu continues to spread among dairy cows in the United States, nearly 5 million doses of flu vaccine are being prepared for possible use in humans as health experts remain concerned about the virus mutating and spreading easily among people. Vaccine maker CSL Seqirus has been tasked with making the additional doses of flu vaccine. The company is capable of delivering up to 150 million influenza vaccine doses within six months of a pandemic declaration. Marc Lacey, global executive director for pandemic at CSL Seqirus, stated that this agreement will help support the U.S. government's ability to respond swiftly if the avian flu situation changes. The new vaccine doses combine an antigen that targets the H5 portion of the H5N1 virus with an ingredient to boost the immune response.
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