A bipartisan group of 23 senators called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to expedite development of a comprehensive bird flu vaccination strategy amid rising infections in livestock flocks. Lawmakers warn that outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, have killed millions of birds nationwide, threatening poultry producers already coping with supply chain pressures and volatile markets.
While USDA announced plans earlier in the year to pursue a vaccine, senators say the lack of a clear timeline and implementation framework has left farmers without a dependable tool to protect flocks. The group emphasized that any vaccination approach should be grounded in scientific research and include input from producers, veterinarians and trade stakeholders. They also highlighted concerns about how vaccination policies could affect international trade if foreign partners remain wary of U.S. poultry exports. USDA has pledged research funding but has not yet released detailed operational plans.
-NAFB