The existing vaccines don't match the current strain, and both the U.S. and E.U. have rules on imported birds that are vaccinated.

Life science companies developing bird flu vaccines are gaining attention as the avian influenza subtype H5N1 becomes an increasing concern. The United States is in the midst of an H5N1 bird flu outbreak that began in February 2024 and is now threatening the nation’s poultry and cattle industries.

Vaccines could prevent bird flu and the mass slaughter of chickens that currently leads to high egg prices. The USDA plans a $100 million study on bird flu vaccines, but concerns about chicken exports slow the process.

The Biden and Trump administrations have put billions into bird flu monitoring and prevention. But where is that money going?

Chicken meat producers remain the most resistant to vaccines because of concerns they could harm meat exports, which totaled nearly $4.7 billion last year.