Finland Finds Seqirus Bird Flu Vaccine Effective

A recent study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) shows that the Zoonotic Influenza Vaccine Seqirus injektioneste protects people against the disease caused by the currently circulating avian influenza viruses.

Since the summer of 2024, avian influenza vaccinations have been offered to occupational groups in the Republic of Finland at increased risk of the disease, such as those working with fur animals and poultry. They were offered Seqirus's vaccine, which the European Medicines Agency authorized.

Announced on February 13, 2025, the study showed that the vaccine-induced neutralizing antibodies identified the vaccine virus and the avian influenza viruses that caused the outbreaks on fur farms in Finland in 2023 and on dairy farms in the United States in 2024.

About half of the previously unvaccinated individuals received one vaccine dose, which induced antibody levels that were estimated to protect against the disease caused by the avian influenza virus. Two doses induced protective antibody levels in the majority. The results suggest that the vaccine protects against currently circulating avian influenza viruses. 

In the United States, the FDA has authorized one avian influenza vaccine, and the government has funded various vaccine candidates.

These 'bird flu' vaccines are not commercially available in the U.S.