Chickens Get Bird Flu Vaccine, Not People

Zoetis recently announced it received a conditional license from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Center for Veterinary Biologics, for its Avian Influenza Vaccine, H5N2 Subtype, Killed Virus for use in chickens, not people.

On February 14, 2025, the company wrote that the decision to vaccinate commercial poultry flocks against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) rests solely with national regulatory authorities in partnership with the poultry industry.

"When a new strain of HPAI was identified in the U.S. in early 2022, our scientists immediately began work to update our previous avian influenza vaccine," said Mahesh Kumar, Ph.D., senior vice president of global biologics research and development at Zoetis, in a press release.

"We first worked on HPAI vaccines in 2001-02 when outbreaks occurred in flocks in Southeast Asia."

"Our readiness with this most recent vaccine is another example of how we continue to live our purpose to nurture the world and humankind by advancing care for animals, ultimately providing solutions to global animal health challenges."

In 2016, the company received a conditional license for its H5N1 vaccine and a contract award for the USDA's National Veterinary Stockpile; this vaccine was first used by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 2023 to help protect California condors. Zoetis also holds a USDA license used to help protect endangered birds in New Zealand in 2024.