Is there a vaccine for Avian Influenza A (H5N1) virus?

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Last updated: February 15, 2025View editorial policy

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From the Research

Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Vaccine

  • There are multiple vaccines in development for humans to protect against avian influenza, specifically the H5N1 virus 1.
  • A cell-based vaccine called Audenz has been approved by the FDA for people aged 6 months and older who are at higher risk of exposure to the H5N1 virus 1.
  • Effective vaccines against the highly pathogenic influenza A/H5N1 virus are being developed worldwide, including adjuvanted, inactivated, whole-virion influenza vaccines 2.
  • mRNA vaccine candidates targeting panzootic influenza A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses have shown promise in protecting ferrets from lethal infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus 3.
  • Prepandemic candidate vaccines are being developed, including a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine lacking NS1, which has shown safety and immunogenicity in healthy adult participants 4.

Types of Vaccines

  • Inactivated influenza vaccines are the most frequently developed for immunization against the highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza virus 4.
  • Live attenuated H5N1 vaccines, such as delNS1-H5N1, are being investigated for their safety and immunogenicity 4.
  • mRNA vaccines are being developed as a potential vaccine platform for future influenza pandemics 3.
  • Cell-based vaccines, such as Audenz, are being used to protect against avian influenza 1.

Vaccine Development and Approval

  • The development of H5N1 vaccines involves overcoming various obstacles, including quality control and formulation stability tests 2.
  • Vaccine quality is confirmed by quality control, stability, and pre-clinical tests before clinical trials are initiated 2.
  • The FDA has approved a cell-based vaccine called Audenz for people aged 6 months and older who are at higher risk of exposure to the H5N1 virus 1.
  • The Ministry of Health and Labor Welfare of Japan has approved an adjuvanted, inactivated, whole-virion influenza vaccine as a mock-up, pre-pandemic vaccine formulation 2.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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