A UK government-backed trial is developing a new mRNA vaccine against a dangerous new clade of bird flu, according to reports. The phase 3 trial, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, will test the vaccine on 3,000 Brits and 1,000 Americans, a major media outlet reports. Moderna has agreed to a strategic partnership with the UK government for the mRNA vaccine, sources indicate. Dr Richard Pebody, director of emerging infections at the UK Health Security Agency, emphasized the urgency, stating that while the timing of the next pandemic is unknown, flu is the most likely candidate due to its constant evolution and circulation in animals, with four of the past five respiratory pandemics since 1918 being flu-related.
Scientists are analyzing a dangerous clade of bird flu called 2.3.4.4b, which has spread through animals in Europe, according to major media. There have been 116 confirmed human cases globally since 2024, almost all linked to close contact with infected animals, multiple reports indicate. Recent outbreaks across the UK and Europe have reached an unprecedented scale, devastating populations of both captive and wild birds, media reports say. The specific timeline for the mRNA vaccine trial results and potential deployment remains unclear, and the detailed safety profiles and potential side effects of the new mRNA vaccine for humans are not yet known.
In parallel, a turkey vaccine trial will start on Thursday and last 24 weeks under strict supervision with approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, a major media outlet reports. Turkeys have been selected for the trial because of their high susceptibility and mortality rates during outbreaks, according to reports. The turkey vaccine trial will test vaccines’ efficacy as an additional tool to fight bird flu, on top of existing biosecurity measures, sources indicate. How effective these current bird flu vaccines are in preventing transmission is still under investigation. Christine Middlemiss, the UK chief veterinary officer, noted that this targeted trial is key for understanding how HPAI vaccines can be effectively used for disease control in the UK.
Annual bird flu outbreaks cost the UK Government and industry up to £174 million each year, officials say. Baroness Hayman, the biosecurity minister, stated that the disease takes a terrible toll on farmers and the poultry sector, and the start of new vaccine trials is a significant step forward in the fight against it. Stringent biosecurity will always remain the UK’s best defence against bird flu, according to UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, who urged all bird keepers to continue preventive steps. What specific trade implications might arise if bird flu vaccines are widely adopted in the UK is not detailed, and how the UK government will prioritize between human mRNA vaccines and poultry vaccines in resource allocation is uncertain.
Several other countries are considering the potential for HPAI vaccines to help tackle bird flu, with trials currently taking place in Italy and the Netherlands, multiple reports indicate. Baroness Hayman expressed hope that vaccines can be used in the UK as an additional tool to control bird flu to protect biosecurity and food supply. This international context underscores the global effort to combat the spread of avian influenza through innovative vaccine strategies.