Finland vaccinates humans against bird flu

Finnish officials said they have not recorded any cases of H5N1 in humans, but are still deploying vaccines. The reason is that this country is worried about disease outbreaks from fur harvesting farms. It is expected that people 18 years of age or older to be vaccinated include: workers at fur and poultry harvest farms, laboratory technicians handling avian flu samples, veterinarians…

Finland introduced the policy in the context of the H5N1 virus strain that has caused disease globally since 2020, and is increasingly spreading. Some areas in the US have recorded cases in livestock and humans. Meanwhile, Finland in 2023 will cull about 486,000 animals to prevent the spread of H5N1. Many health experts are concerned that the virus could mutate and break out in other countries.

According to the European Commission (EC), this is the first country in the world to deploy bird flu vaccination for people. Across the continent, a total of 15 countries will deploy vaccination, having ordered 40 million doses.

The US company CSL Seqirus supplies vaccines and is one of the largest influenza vaccine producers in the world. The company’s H5N1 vaccine is prepared using inactivated technology, indicated for people 6 months of age and older.

Influenza A/H5N1, also known as avian influenza, is a disease caused by a virus. In humans, H5N1 can cause severe illness, rapid progression and death. Symptoms include fever, cough, fatigue, body aches, muscle and throat pain. Currently, there is no treatment for influenza A/H5N1. In addition to vaccines, recommended preventive measures include: not eating meat, slaughtering sick or dead poultry of unknown origin; ensuring food is cooked and water is boiled, hand hygiene; and destroying animals showing signs of illness.