In order to prepare the country for an avian influenza pandemic in the future and to increase the government's stockpile of bird flu vaccines, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)has entered into a $121.4 million multi-year contract with the Australian biotech company CSL Limited, thecompany announced on Wednesday.
The partnership between CSL and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)of HHS, done as part of the National Pre-Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile program in US, is aimed at increasing thecountry's stockpile of bird flu vaccines to 40 million doses.
BARDA, which is part of HHS, plays an important role by developing medical counter measures to address public health emergency threats.
Through the agreement, CSL will deliver its MF59adjuvant-an active ingredient used to make influenza vaccines-toreach the required target, the company said. The latest contract is the fifth award the company has procured from BARDA to secure the country against bird flu.
About 4.8 million doses of bird flu vaccines were delivered as part of the last contract, according to a report from Reuters.
"Once again, we're honored to partner with BARDA on pandemic preparedness," CSL Seqirus' Global Executive Director for Pandemic, Marc Lacey, said in a statement."This expanded program will increase outbreak resilience and help to protect against threats such as avian influenza."
The partnership comes in the midst of a bird flu outbreak in US. Since April 2024, the country has reported 14 human cases of avian influenza A (H5) virus.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the situation is under control."While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures," a statement on the agency's website, read.
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