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Iowa firm receives go-ahead to make avian flu vaccine

Joel Harris of Harrisvaccines

Joel Harris of Harrisvaccines

The USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has awarded contracts to two companies to manufacture doses of avian influenza vaccine. They are Ames, Iowa-based Harrisvaccines and Ceva, which has its headquarters in France.

In making the announcement, APHIS stressed that the action was taken to develop the agency’s vaccine stockpile and does not signal a decision to vaccinate for avian flu. The agency says it wants to ensure that vaccine is available should the decision be made to use it during a future outbreak of the virus. They add that any decision to use vaccination in a future avian flu outbreak would require careful consideration of the efficacy of the vaccine, any impacts of using the vaccine in the field, and any potential trade impacts.

Brownfield sat down with Joel Harris, vice president for sales and marketing with Harrisvaccines, to discuss the APHIS announcement and what it means to his company and the poultry industries.

AUDIO: Joel Harris

 

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