What is the CDC’s new initiative for livestock workers?

CDC Launches $5 Million Initiative

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is launching a $5 million initiative to provide seasonal flu shots this fall to about 200,000 livestock workers in states hardest hit by the bird flu outbreak.

Risk of Dual Infection

Workers on poultry, dairy, and pig farms are at greatest risk of being simultaneously exposed to seasonal flu and the H5N1 bird flu that has infected at least 172 dairy herds in 13 states, according to the Department of Agriculture. Such exposures raise the rare risk of the two viruses exchanging genetic material, a process known as reassortment, which could lead to a new influenza virus that “could pose a significant public health concern by becoming more efficient at spread and potentially more severe,” Nirav Shah, CDC’s principal deputy director, stated at a news briefing on Tuesday. Widespread seasonal flu vaccination would reduce that risk, he added.

Current Situation

Thirteen farmworkers have been infected in the outbreak, all of whom had mild symptoms and recovered.

Vaccination Debate

Despite having 4.8 million doses of H5N1 bird flu vaccine, officials are not recommending its use because those infected have experienced mild symptoms, the virus is not being transmitted between people, and it is not being spread asymptomatically.

Some public health experts argue for vaccinating U.S. farmworkers against bird flu. Among the 13 U.S. workers infected this year, nine were workers culling infected birds on two Colorado poultry farms. Finland has announced plans to offer preemptive vaccination against bird flu to some workers with exposure to animals.

Future Considerations

When asked why poultry workers at highest risk of contracting bird flu are not being given the H5N1 vaccine, Shah indicated that discussions about the possibility are ongoing. “I don’t think we ought to look at introduction of a new vaccine through the lens of why not,” he remarked. “There has to be a strong and compelling case to do something, particularly since this is a new vaccine where uptake may be unknown.”

Community Outreach

The CDC is also awarding $5 million to community organizations such as the National Center for Farmworker Health for outreach and education efforts.

Availability of Vaccines

The CDC will purchase the seasonal flu shots, allowing states to order them as needed. The shots will be administered through state health departments and community organizations at farms, churches, community centers, and other places where workers gather.

Shah assured that there will be enough shots to vaccinate every livestock worker in the country if they choose to. However, less than half of the U.S. population typically receives the seasonal flu shot each year.