As bird flu concerns grow, scientists race to develop new vaccines [View all]
Source: NBC
As fears grow of a possible bird flu pandemic in humans, the federal government is pouring more money into the development of new vaccines, including an mRNA shot.
On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services announced its providing about $590 million in funding to Moderna in part to fast-track the development of an mRNA vaccine that targets the strains of bird flu currently circulating in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows.
The money is in addition to the $176 million HHS awarded the drugmaker in July to develop a bird flu vaccine.
The federal government already has two bird flu vaccine candidates in limited quantities in the nations stockpile. Those shots use traditional vaccine technology, but take far longer to produce a hindrance during an emergency like a fast-moving pandemic.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/bird-flu-concerns-grow-scientists-race-develop-new-vaccines-rcna187824