"Global Strategies for Ramping Up H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccine Distribution"

Deciding when to start mass-producing H5N1 vaccine is a complex and high-stakes decision due to the limited capacity of flu vaccine production lines, potential financial costs for manufacturers, and the need to prioritize pandemic vaccine over seasonal flu vaccine. There is currently no formal process for making this decision, and it remains unclear who will be responsible for triggering the switch to pandemic vaccine production. Additionally, challenges exist in incorporating H5N1 vaccine into seasonal flu shots and in vaccinating dairy cattle, including cost, international trade implications, and the need for further research.