Last week, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA had authorized licensure applications for an initial field study of a non-replicating H5N1 vaccine for cattle. South Dakota-based animal health vaccine manufacturer Medgene responded to the notice.

Medgene has successfully produced prescription platform vaccines for swine, cattle, rabbit and deer industries in the U.S. and internationally. Chief Operating Officer Tom Halbur expressed optimism, stating that their rapid-response technology is a benefit for the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) and the dairy industry.

The CVB Notice permits vaccine studies to be conducted outside of containment facilities, which could speed up the licensure of H5N1 vaccines for dairy cows. Medgene expects to receive conditional or full licensure from the CVB to produce and distribute the H5N1 vaccine once it is proven safe and effective in dairy cattle.

Multiple vaccine manufacturers have also expressed interest in beginning field safety trials. It is just one of several steps in achieving vaccine licensure.

Read more on the bird flu vaccine effort here.