The UK has secured five million doses of a vaccine that would be used if the H5 bird flu virus spreads to humans.
The influenza A(H5N1) virus has been causing a ‘prolonged global outbreak’, primarily in birds, over the past few years, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today.
While there is currently no evidence of the virus spreading to humans, the UKHSA has ‘long-established plans to boost the UK’s access to vaccines for a wider range of pathogens of pandemic potential’, it said.
It has therefore secured a stock of human H5 vaccines to be manufactured by UK based healthcare company CSL Seqirus UK Limited.
The vaccine should be available ‘immediately’ if a H5 influenza originated pandemic occurs, during which time a pandemic specific vaccine can be made ready, the UKHSA said.
‘The UK Government already has an advance purchase agreement for pandemic vaccines if or when they are needed, that would be tailored to combat the specific pandemic flu strain identified at the time,’ the UKHSA added.
Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA emerging infection lead, said: ‘It is important for us to be prepared against a range of different influenza viruses that may pose human health risks.
‘Early access to vaccines saves lives. Adding H5 vaccines to the interventions already available to us will help us to be ready for a wider range of threats,’ she added.
Last week, UKHSA urged healthcare professionals to come forward for their winter flu jab and Covid booster, amid ‘lower than expected’ uptake.
A version of this article was first published by Pulse’s sister title The Pharmacist
