CSL Seqirus, the influenza vaccines business of CSL, a Melbourne, Australia-based bio/pharmaceutical company, was selected by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority, part of the European Commission, to provide 665,000 pre-pandemic vaccine doses for avian influenza (bird flu) for 15 European Union (EU)and European Economic Area member states as well as to the resEU program under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which was established to create reserves of European capacities, in response to to health emergencies. The acquisition of pre-pandemic (zoonotic) vaccine will create a stockpile of vaccines available to support the EC’s outbreak and pre-pandemic response. 

Under the agreement, CSL Seqirus will deliver 665,000 doses of pre-pandemic vaccine that is well-matched to the H5 of the currently circulating H5N1 strain. In addition, the four-year contract includes an option for participating authorities to purchase up to an additional 40 million doses of the pre-pandemic vaccine over the life of the contract.  

This is the second recent contract by CSL Seqirus to supply does of avian flu vaccine. Earlier this month (June 2024), the company was selected by the US government to complete the fill–finish process for 4.8 million doses of a pre-pandemic vaccine for avian influenza. The doses will be used to support the US National Pre-Pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile program. 

Source: CSL