Bird Flu Vaccine Candidate Effective on Vultures

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported all vultures that received a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccine candidate as part of the initial clinical trial on May 16, 2023, appears to be in good health with no vaccine site reactions.

As of June 2, 2023, the second vaccine dose will be administered next week. 

Depending on these results, the second step would be to implement the vaccine trial on 25 captive California condors. Any vaccination of condors will be administered by a state-licensed veterinarian.  

Since this HAPI outbreak was confirmed in 2023, 21 condors have died. 

The California condor, with a wingspan of 9.5 feet and weighing up to 25 pounds, is the largest land bird in North America. 

Previously, the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (APHIS) researchers confirmed on April 14, 2023, they were testing several vaccine candidates.

The authorized vaccine is a killed, inactivated product conditionally licensed by APHIS' Center for Veterinary Biologics in 2016.

This vaccine has not previously been tested against this strain of the HAPI virus in California Condors. Depending on the results of this trial, the second step would be to implement the trial on 25 captive California condors. 

This vaccine candidate is targeted at birds, not humans.

The U.S. government has already approved a bird flu vaccine for people and continues to invest in newer avian influenza vaccine candidates.