Vaccinating against avian influenza is not new. Poultry producers in Mexico have been vaccinating their flocks for nearly 30 years now. In Canada, vaccinating against avian influenza has become a hot-button issue that has no clear answer. In a recent Canadian Poultry webinar on biosecurity, Jean-Pierre Vaillancourt, professor at the University of Montreal, talked through the pros and cons of vaccination, provided an update on the situation in France, and offered insight into what could be involved in a vaccination strategy in Canada.
The pros and cons of vaccination
Around the world, many countries have been vaccinating flocks for years, particularly against the H7 and the H5N2 viruses, and now against the H5N1 virus. Some of the countries that currently vaccinate their flocks against avian influenza include China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mexico, Vietnam and France. The latter began its efforts in October 2023. With less than a year of experience under its belt, France serves as a strong test case for Canada, as the country’s poultry sector discusses whether or not it wants to develop its own strategy.
Vaillancourt laid out the obvious pros to adopting a vaccination strategy during his biosecurity webinar. Protecting animals from mortality, reducing the need for poultry depopulation, and reducing viral excretion and animal susceptibility to infection came out as strong reasons to vaccinate. In recent months, the focus has shifted from protecting animal health to reducing human exposure to avian influenza viruses to protect human health.
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