Vaccines for Birds: The Next Front in the War on Avian Flu

The war on avian influenza may soon include vaccines for birds. However, as Chad Smith tells us, there are challenges to a nationwide vaccination strategy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing significant resources to fight Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), including $100 million into research and development of a vaccine. Economist Bernt Nelson with the American Farm Bureau Federation says infections are beginning to ease. "Kind of looking at a slowdown this time of the year when we think about what's happening with our migratory birds, the migrations have slowed down. We're in nesting season, so there's a lot less bird movement, and thus we have a lot lower case load of avian influenza. That's about normal for this time of the year. We have had one major detection in the past, you know, week or two, and that was 700,000 egg layers in South Dakota," Nelson explains.

The ultimate goal of any vaccination against bird flu is protecting supply chains. Nelson points out that more than 30 countries have now implemented some sort of a vaccine strategy since 2005. Historically, when countries have done this, this has caused some major trade issues. Importing countries have a concern. They don't want to risk an imported bird spreading the virus into the local flocks or wildlife.

Beyond trade issues, vaccines also pose a logistical challenge. "One of the biggest limiting factors of implementing a vaccine strategy to poultry is that the only vaccines available have to be injected at least two to three times, and with our egg laying flock sitting at about 375 million birds, that's just not feasible with the labor that's needed," Nelson says.

The USDA's funding opportunity, announced in March 2025, aims to explore prevention, therapeutics, research, and potential vaccine candidates. The agency will prioritize proposals that address the development of novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics, research to understand risk pathways, and the development of novel vaccines. The notice of funding opportunity, including application instructions and additional information, is available on the APHIS website. Applicants have until 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, May 19, 2025, to submit applications.

Entities interested in submitting a proposal should ensure they are registered with the U.S. Government System for Award Management (SAM). The USDA is offering a webinar to assist interested applicants in learning more about the funding opportunity and how to submit a proposal. The webinar was held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 12 p.m. ET.

The development and deployment of a vaccine for avian influenza could significantly impact global trade dynamics, particularly in countries that rely heavily on poultry exports. Vaccination can prevent and control outbreaks in vaccinated domestic bird populations, resulting in reduced virus circulation within and between flocks and a lower risk of spillover to wildlife. This reduction in virus circulation can lead to fewer trade disruptions, as countries with vaccinated poultry populations may be perceived as having a lower risk of disease transmission.

However, the use of a vaccine that is not compatible with serologic testing schema could lead to trade barriers, as countries may be unable to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals. Therefore, it is crucial that any vaccine developed for avian influenza is well-matched to circulating clades, compatible with the ability to differentiate vaccinated from infected animals (DIVA), and compatible with serologic testing schema.

In conclusion, while a nationwide vaccination strategy for avian influenza in the poultry industry offers significant economic benefits such as reduced losses and enhanced food security, it also comes with drawbacks such as high initial and ongoing costs, as well as potential market disruptions. The development and deployment of a vaccine for avian influenza could have a significant positive impact on global trade dynamics, particularly in countries that rely heavily on poultry exports. However, it is important that any vaccine developed is carefully managed to avoid potential negative impacts on trade dynamics.