Development of mRNA vaccine to treat bird flu in dairy cows

SOURCE apnews.com
The U.S. government will pay Moderna $176 million to develop a mRNA vaccine to treat bird flu, as cases in dairy cows rise. Moderna's vaccine uses the same technology as COVID-19 vaccines and can be redirected if needed.

Key Points

  • Moderna awarded $176 million by U.S. government
  • Vaccine in early-stage testing
  • Can be redirected to target other forms of influenza
  • H5N1 virus detected in dairy cows, minimal risk to wider population

Pros

  • Accelerated development of pandemic influenza vaccine
  • Potential to treat bird flu in people
  • Utilizes mRNA technology for rapid development

Cons

  • Risk of redirecting project if new influenza threat emerges