Europe is preparing for a possible bird flu pandemic by purchasing vaccines

The advantage over Covid is that there will be a therapeutic arsenal to combat it. Apart from the famous Tamiflu (oseltamivir), a medicine used in the 2009 influenza A epidemic, special vaccines have recently been developed that will act as a protective shield.

The United States was the first country to protect itself with a strategic reserve of these vaccines. This was done after three cases of the disease were detected among cow farm workers. Britain followed, and on Tuesday the European Union announced a joint purchase. The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has signed a joint procurement framework contract for supplies to member states. The contract includes initially 665,000 vaccine doses

against H5N1 influenza in the most updated version, as well as the possibility of purchasing another 40 million during the term of the contract.

Fifteen countries are currently participating in this joint procurement program and the first doses will be received by Finnish health authorities. Spain could be among them, although the Ministry of Health was unable to confirm this yesterday at the request of this newspaper. The European Commission also did not want to disclose the names of the countries involved in the acquisition, citing confidentiality agreements with pharmaceutical companies. Only the Finnish decision appeared.

Low threat to the general population

While the threat of bird flu to the general population “remains low, we must protect those most at risk, such as farm workers and some veterinarians,” Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said, saying Brussels was prepared to take further decisions if the situation changes . getting worse.

The Commission and various health agencies say they are closely monitoring the situation with avian influenza in the EU, and remind that there are already Community rules on the measures to be taken in the event of an outbreak in captive birds, “as well as a framework” in the event of infection reliable preventive and therapeutic measures are taken for animals.” “With regard to human health, it is emphasized that European legislation guarantees surveillance, rapid response and coordination at EU level if a case is identified.”

Individual purchase

The joint purchase, agreed by the Community Executive on behalf of the 15 countries, aims to “offer additional capacity” to national authorities, explained commissioner spokesman Stefan de Keersmaeker, who stressed that this does not prevent these or other European Union countries from “buying their own » other batches of vaccines.

Europe recently authorized the sale of two types of vaccines: those that could protect in the event of a possible pandemic, and others intended to prevent infection among workers who work with farm animals or veterinarians. The latter is what the European Union has acquired to protect the population most at risk from direct contact with animals that transmit the disease. It is intended for immunization during a time when a possible pandemic can be expected: the current scenario.

Two doses are required and can be used from six months of age, taking into account the families of workers. Until now, only immunization with the seasonal influenza vaccine has been recommended because it provides some protection.

Fast production without eggs

In case a pandemic is officially declared, the pharmaceutical company Sequirus has another vaccine. In fact, it is more of a production system or platform that will allow us to quickly adapt to the virus that is currently circulating and produce a vaccine that provides maximum protection.

One of the big advantages of the new vaccines over traditional flu vaccines is that they don’t require billions of eggs to be produced and the production process is faster. “Instead, mammalian cells are used as the substrate, allowing for greater flexibility and speed. Millions of doses can be produced in a short time. With cultivation we could reach about 6 billion. To produce the same quantity using the traditional method, we would need twice as many eggs as doses and more than a month of preparation,” Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu, honorary director of the National Influenza Center of Valladolid, explains to ABC.

Europe also has agreements with Sequirus and GSK for acquisitions if needed in the event of a pandemic. In total, taking into account other previous contracts, there would be 111 million doses.

“Let’s not close our eyes”

It is unknown how long it will take for the virus to become a pandemic. But what is known is that H5N1 has made great progress since it began infecting wild birds. “It later began to spread between poultry, marine mammals, foxes, cats, wolves, polar bears… and most recently cows,” lists influenza expert Raul Ortiz de Lejarazu, who assures that “you can’t close your eyes.” to what is happening. This is not about anxiety, but about “readiness.”

In addition to vaccines, calls for veterinary healthcare to be equipped with tools that will allow it to track this virus without waiting for human cases.