Concerns Over Global Production Capacity for H5N1 Vaccine in Potential Bird Flu Pandemic
Concerns arise over global production capacity as massive amounts of H5N1 vaccine may be needed in the event of a bird flu pandemic. While the current system for producing flu vaccines is well-established, the global production capacity falls short of being able to vaccinate a significant portion of the population within the first year of an outbreak. Comparisons to the rapid production of Covid-19 vaccines raise questions about the ability to respond effectively to an H5N1 pandemic, highlighting the critical global health challenge of rapidly responding to emerging infectious diseases.
Vietnam Reports First H5N1 Avian Flu Death Since 2014
Vietnam’s health ministry confirms 21-year-old college student in Khanh Hoa province has died from H5N1 avian flu infection, with no other cases detected among the patient’s contacts. FDA grants emergency use authorization for Invivyd’s monoclonal antibody, pemivibart (Pemgarda), for prevention of COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients.