WHO official declarations

Dr. Leana Wen Calls for FDA Approval of H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccine Amid 66 Confirmed Cases and Urgent Need for 5 Million Doses

Dec 29, 2024, 06:07 PM

Dr. Leana Wen, a former Baltimore health commissioner, has urged the Biden administration to expedite the FDA approval of H5N1 bird flu vaccines and to distribute 5 million doses to vulnerable Americans. Wen expressed concerns about the potential for bird flu to mutate and pose a significant threat to human health, emphasizing the need for immediate action. She highlighted that there are currently 66 confirmed cases of bird flu in the U.S. and criticized the lack of adequate testing, stating, "I feel like we should've learned our lesson from COVID, that just because we aren't testing doesn't mean the virus isn't there." Wen's call for action follows warnings from other health experts about the risk of a new pandemic emerging from bird flu, with some suggesting the urgency of testing and vaccination to prevent widespread transmission.