Finland intends to administer preemptive bird flu vaccinations to certain workers exposed to animals starting next week, health authorities announced on Tuesday.
This initiative marks the world’s first such effort. The country has secured vaccines for 10,000 individuals, with each person receiving two injections.
These vaccines are part of a broader EU procurement of up to 40 million doses from CSL Seqirus (CSL.AX), allocated among 15 member nations.
The Australian company stated to Reuters that Finland will be the inaugural country to introduce the vaccine.
According to a statement by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the vaccine will be available to individuals aged 18 or older who face heightened risk of contracting avian influenza due to their occupation or other factors.
In recent years, the H5N1 strain of bird flu has led to the deaths or culling of hundreds of millions of poultry globally.
It has also been increasingly detected in mammals, including cows in the United States, and in sporadic cases, humans as well.
THL stated that Finland has not detected the virus in humans. Despite this, the country is eager to start vaccinations due to the transmission risks posed by its fur farms.
Chief Physician Hanna Nohynek from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) informed Reuters that Finland’s unique conditions include fur farms where animals can come into contact with wildlife.
Last year, Finland experienced widespread outbreaks of bird flu among mink and foxes at its predominantly open-air fur farms.
In response, approximately 485,000 animals were culled to prevent the virus from spreading among the animals and potentially to humans.
According to a THL spokesperson speaking to Reuters, vaccinations are expected to commence as early as next week in certain regions of Finland.
The country has secured vaccines for individuals considered at risk, including workers at fur and poultry farms, laboratory technicians handling bird flu samples, and veterinarians serving as animal control officers in areas with fur farms.
THL also stated that individuals working in sanctuaries caring for wild birds, on livestock farms, or involved in cleaning premises like animal by-products processing plants, will also be eligible to receive vaccines.
In the event of human infection with avian influenza, THL added that close contacts of a suspected or confirmed case would also be offered the vaccine.
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