USDA awards Zoetis latest contract to build stockpile of avian flu vaccines
USDA awarded its latest contract for avian influenza vaccines to Zoetis, a leading developer and marketer of vaccines and other health products for the poultry, livestock and companion animal industries.
The contract calls for 34.2 million doses of avian influenza vaccine, H5N1 subtype, killed virus, to be delivered in 2016 and for another 34.2 million doses for 2017. Each order is valued at $3.42 million, the company said.
USDA granted Zoetis a conditional license for this vaccine, intended for use in chickens as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by avian influenza virus H5N1, in March 2016.
“Developing this newest vaccine is further demonstration of our strong commitment to poultry producers,” said Jon Schaeffer, DVM, director of veterinary services for the company’s US poultry business.
“We stand ready to help implement a vaccination strategy, should the USDA determine that is the best course of action for the industry.”
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during the spring and summer of 2015 was the largest animal health emergency in the country’s history, according to USDA. More than 49 million birds died in the US as a result of last year’s outbreak.
The conditional license was granted on the demonstration of a reasonable expectation of efficacy based on serology data.
