MedScape The UK is recruiting 3000 of the 4000 volunteers needed for a major international trial of an mRNA vaccine against bird flu, as experts warn that H5N1 remains a credible pandemic threat.
H5 influenza, or avian/bird flu, remains a pandemic threat, experts said. The virus has been circulating in wild birds — and domestic poultry — for a number of years, with almost all human cases linked to close contact with infected animals.
Should the virus adapt to spread between humans, the consequences could be severe. The trial aims to establish how effectively an mRNA vaccine against H5N1 would protect against that threat. Rapid Response and Scale Up
The phase 3 trial will evaluate the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerability of mRNA-1018-H5, which uses the same mRNA technology as current COVID-19 vaccines, in healthy adults aged 18 or older. Participants will receive two doses — given on day 1 and day 22 — or a placebo control.