On Tuesday, the U.S. government announced the plan to provide $176 million to Moderna to develop a pandemic vaccine targeting avian flu affecting humans since the cases of bird flu originating from cows are increasing nationwide.
The fund will be distributed through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It will be used for the continued development of vaccines utilizing mRNA technology, which has enabled the rapid growth and distribution of vaccines to prevent COVID-19.
Moderna aims to start clinical trials to test the safety and efficacy of the invented vaccine, which will act on the expansion of response to a potential avian flu pandemic. Earlier this year, the H5N1 virus was found in cows in the U.S., spreading to more than 135 flocks in 12 states. So far, three cows have been infected, but all were mild cases.
However, federal health authorities emphasize that the general public’s risk is still low.
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