Many companies have been funded and given the responsibility of working on and producing a pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccine that will help combat this virus in humans should it arise in the future.
Recently, though, there have been reports of the virus affecting humans. In fact, a man was reported to have lost his entire poultry to this deadly virus, and some days later he too passed away.
Let us, however, find out more about this vaccine.
Description of the H5N1 Vaccine

The H5N1 vaccine is simply a vaccine created with the sole aim of providing immunization against the H5N1 bird flu virus.
These vaccines have been made to combat the H5N1 virus in poultry animals and are very much available in many countries.
Besides poultry animals, there are ongoing processes that are being taken to produce the H5N1 vaccines for humans as well, due to speculations that this virus may soon start affecting humans as well.
What makes the H5N1 vaccine active against the virus is the antigen it contains, commonly referred to as the hemagglutinin protein.
The vaccines help to create antibodies that increase the ineffectiveness of the virus activity.
It has been recorded that the influenza virus varies; in that, the H5N1 virus once affected just poultry animals but has now mutated itself and evolved to affect cows as well.
This virus over the years has spread from just poultry birds to even wild birds across the continents (excluding Australia).
It is speculated that as this virus evolves and affects a new species, then the former vaccine becomes ineffective and has to be updated. This means that when or if this virus evolves to affect humans, the H5N1 vaccine used in poultry animals and cows may be ineffective and will need to be updated.
However, the process involved will be somewhat similar.
Read also:Â H5N1 Bird Flu: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
What are the Licensed H5N1 Vaccines?
Yes, I called them licensed because not all H5N1 vaccines have been licensed and authorised for use. Older vaccines that have existed and have been licensed for use on humans include the following:
H5N1 vaccine |
Approved By |
Year of License |
CSL Limited’s vaccine Panvax
|
Australia | June 2008 |
Sanofi Pasteur’s vaccine | United States | April 2007 |
GlaxoSmithKline’s vaccine Prepandrix
|
European Union | May 2008 |
What are the Candidate H5N1 Vaccines?
A candidate vaccine is a vaccine that has been created and tested to be safe for use and effective against the virus, but has not yet received a marketing authorization for use.
Below are a few of the already-developed candidate vaccines:
H5N1 vaccine |
Content | Approved By |
Year of License |
Pumarix |
_________ |
European Union | March 2011 |
Aflunov | A vaccine for adults and children over 6 months.
Contains: the flu strain A/turkey/Turkey/1/2005 (H5N1)-like strain (NIBRG-23) (clade 2.2.1). |
European Union | November 2010 |
Foclivia | Contains: the A/Vietnam/1194/2004 (H5N1) flu strain. | European Union | October 2009 |
Adjupanrix | Contains: the flu strain A/VietNam/1194/2004 NIBRG 14 (H5N1). | European Union | October 2009 |
Seqirus/Audenz | A vaccine for adults.
Contains: a killed flu strain called A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 (H5N8)-like strain.
|
_________ |
_________ |
Read also:Â Deadly Mosquito Virus Massachusetts: News On The Radar Now
Production of H5N1 Vaccines?
As earlier mentioned, the H5N1 vaccine varies due to the variation of the virus. This virus has mutated over the years and evolved from just being an avian virus (affecting just poultry and wild birds) to affecting animals as well, such as cows.
This means, however, that the H5N1 vaccine will have to be updated in the future if it ever evolves to affect humans.
Although vaccines have not been produced since there has not been a need for one, pre-pandemic vaccines are being funded and worked on just in case to avoid being taken unawares.
Conclusion
The vaccine is not approved for use in areas where there is no pandemic. This means that it should only be administered when there is an official declaration of the pandemic.
The H5N1 bird flu has common symptoms to the common cold, as you may experience the following:
- Cough
- Runny nose, etc.
However, the difference between these 2 is that the common cold only results in mild symptoms, unlike the virus, which results in serious health complications.
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