Pandemic fears spark urgent UK response with five million vaccines purchased
World Health Organization says 'we must prepare' for next pandemic
GB NEWS
Britain has secured five million doses of H5N1 bird flu vaccine as part of its pandemic preparedness measures, health officials announced yesterday.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed the stockpile will be manufactured at CSL Seqirus's plant in Liverpool.
The procurement comes amid growing concerns about the virus's spread globally, with experts warning that while human-to-human transmission hasn't occurred, the increasing cases in animals have raised the risk to humans.
The Liverpool facility is the largest vaccine manufacturing site in the UK, where CSL Seqirus will produce the H5 jabs.
Public health minister Andrew Gwynne said the vaccine procurement "is one part of our preparedness plans, improving our readiness to respond to emerging health threats and protecting people's lives and livelihoods."
The stockpile follows Finland's earlier procurement of 10,000 doses to protect workers after H5N1 spread amongst farmed mink last year, though only 450 people opted for vaccination.
The stockpile follows Finland's earlier procurement of 10,000 doses to protect workers
PA
Recent months have seen H5N1 spreading rapidly across farms in the US and Europe, with more than 50 human cases reported in America alone.
A concerning development involves a Canadian teenager who remains in critical condition after contracting the infection through an unknown source.
In the UK, H5N1 has been detected in poultry flocks in Cornwall and Yorkshire, though no human cases have been reported domestically.
Most US cases have involved farm workers who experienced only mild symptoms.
Dr Meera Chand, Emerging Infection Lead at the UKHSA, 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."
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, warned that the emergence of a new flu strain is "at the top of the list of pandemic threats".
He added: "H5 is the one we are most concerned about as a result of the global spread amongst birds and various mammals, and worryingly across the USA amongst cattle this year."
Experts have highlighted concerns about the virus's ability to 'jump' between species, particularly its spread from birds to mammals.
A key worry is the potential for reassortment - where seasonal flu and animal flu viruses like H5N1 mix their genetic material.
This process, which led to the 2009 swine flu pandemic, could create a new, more transmissible strain if animals or humans contract both viruses simultaneously.
The UKHSA said the vaccine stockpile will ensure immediate protection while a pandemic-specific vaccine is developed if needed.
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