WHO Launches New Project to Develop H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently launched a new project to accelerate the development of H5N1 bird flu vaccines in underprivileged nations. They will utilize advanced messenger RNA technology. This project will be led by Argentinian manufacturer Sinergium Biotech and they are already working on potential vaccines. 

The H5N1 virus was first found in 1996. Now it has been spreading more among birds since 2020. It has also been found in some cows in the U.S. and a few people. This has made people worried that it can cause a big disease outbreak in the future.  

Sinergium Biotech is trying to show that their vaccines are effective and work well in tests before using them on people. If they can prove this, the World Health Organization (WHO) wants to help manufacturers in developing countries by sharing knowledge and technology. This will help these countries make vaccines easily and faster. 

The WHO’s mRNA technology transfer program was started in 2021 with the UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). It aims to assist low- and middle-income countries struggling with vaccine access during the COVID-19 pandemic in developing their own mRNA vaccines. 

mRNA technology tells the body to make a protein that helps the immune system fight and reduces the risk of infections. COVID vaccines made with this technology were developed quickly during the pandemic that shows its potential. But not everyone had equal access to these vaccines in the world. 

The WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, highlighted the significance of the mRNA Technology Transfer Program. He said this program will improve research and production capabilities in low- and middle-income countries. The program currently has 15 manufacturing partners from countries such as Ukraine, South Africa, and Vietnam.  

The mRNA technology that is used for vaccines can be easily adapted to make different vaccines or treatments if there is less demand for the H5N1 vaccine. Many partners are already getting ready to make mRNA vaccines and that will help in future health emergencies. This project is a big step towards making vaccines available in areas that do not have enough healthcare.