17.12.2023

A new review on avian influenza vaccination was published in the Avian Diseases journal. Vaccination against avian influenza strains can be used to prevent infections and maintain production during outbreaks of both low and high pathogenicity avian influenza. High pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccination programs and their associated surveillance may undergo intense international scrutiny due to the transboundary nature of the disease and its reportable status to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). The use of avian influenza vaccination, particularly for certain subtypes, can have implications for international trade of poultry products, leading to tensions within the poultry industry over the inclusion of vaccination as a supplement to a stamping-out policy. The development of improved methods for the detection of infection and rapid sequencing has become widely available, minimizing concerns about the impact of vaccination on trade. This emphasizes the importance of robust surveillance and detection systems to address trade-related concerns. Vaccination has been used as part of outbreak control strategies, but its effectiveness can vary depending on the strain and the match between the vaccine and circulating viruses. Vaccination can reduce transmission of avian influenza, slow spread, and protect public health. In situations where eradication of avian influenza will not be possible in the near term, the addition of vaccination to a stamping-out program should be considered to protect human health and food security. These considerations underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of implementing vaccination against avian influenza in poultry, encompassing economic, international, and public health dimensions.