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USDA Takes Bids For Avian Flu Vaccine Makers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has been preparing for the potential recurrence in the fall of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus that affected more than 48 million birds at over 200 poultry facilities earlier this year. As part of these preparations, APHIS and its state and industry partners are examining the potential use of vaccine to help prevent illness in birds and interrupt the spread of the disease. APHIS is today announcing two actions related to vaccine use: the issuance of a request for proposals for vaccine doses to equip the National Veterinary Stockpile, and notification that APHIS will publish an environmental assessment evaluating the potential environmental impacts of using vaccine in the event of an HPAI outbreak.  
 
While APHIS has not approved the use of vaccine to respond to HPAI to date, the Agency is preparing to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it. APHIS is seeking to create a stockpile of vaccine for the Eurasian H5 (EA H5) virus strain that circulated in domestic poultry earlier this year. APHIS issued a request for proposals yesterday for vaccine manufacturers with the interest and capability to supply a variety of EA H5 vaccines in sufficient numbers to establish the emergency stockpile. 
 
Vaccines will be carefully evaluated on a number of factors including their efficacy against EA H5 viruses, and products must meet all of APHIS’ safety, potency, and purity standards. All eligible products to be considered must be either conditionally or fully licensed or permitted at the time of submission. Vaccine manufacturers will be evaluated on their ability to produce such vaccines in a timely manner in adequate numbers to meet the needs of the response. 
 
The RFP is available here: https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=56f3e86d4538b147c5803c4e335ad9f6&tab=core&_cview=1
 
In the coming weeks, APHIS will also publish an environmental assessment that examines the impacts of using HPAI vaccine in the field during an outbreak response. This assessment will look at two alternatives: approving vaccine use targeting EA H5 viruses or taking no action. Once published, the EA will have a 30-day public comment period.
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