March 5, 2026

expert reaction to start of avian flu vaccine trials in turkeys

Scientists comment on DEFRA announcing the start of an avian flu vaccine trial in turkeys. 

Prof Paul Wigley, Professor in Animal Microbial Ecosystems, University of Bristol, said:

“High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) often called Bird Flu is a highly pathogenic and readily transmitted virus that can cause high mortality disease in birds but especially turkeys and chickens.  Infection into a farm can wipe out the whole flock. Currently on the UK we use controls based on testing, housing birds indoors, movement restrictions and culling. The UK does not currently vaccinate against HPAI for trade reasons (maintaining disease free status), but vaccines are used in many countries as part of control strategies.

“The development and potential of new and more effective vaccines for use in the UK is welcome as this would reduce the risk of transmission and potentially reduce the need for wider restrictions and most significantly reduce the numbers of animals being culled. These newer vaccines should allow farmers and vets to differentiate between immunised or infected animals allowing vaccinated animals to maintain disease-free status, removing the current trade barriers to vaccination.  

“There is a long and successful track record of vaccination reducing the impact of a range of viral infections in poultry, with many vaccines given in hatcheries via spray delivery.  The UK currently produces around 15 million turkeys and more than a billion chickens annually, meaning an effective vaccine could save many millions of animals in the event of an outbreak.”

Prof Ian Jones, Professor of Virology, University of Reading, said:

“This is a clear and welcome case of ‘prevention is better than cure’ as the cure for any current avian influenza outbreak is a cull of all the birds involved. Other countries, notably China, have shown that control of avian influenza is feasible through mandatory vaccination and as the incidence of avian flu in the UK is unlikely to decline any time soon, it is very sensible to assess the same approach here. Although the vaccine will need regular updating and the need for biosecurity, surveillance and culling do not go away, vaccination indicates a welcome move towards disease management and away from periodic alarm.”

Declared interests

Ian Jones: “I declare no conflicts”

For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.