Looking at the contract, it is for a H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4b vaccine.
The current strain in North America is H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b.
So I am confused. They are purchasing a vaccine for a disease that is currently not present, and the vaccine is based on a different strain than the one that is currently circulating in North America?
(maybe some cross immunity can be achieved, but is certainly not optimal, especially for a disease that is currently not present in humans).
Looking at the contract, it is for a H5N8, clade 2.3.4.4b vaccine.
The current strain in North America is H5N1, clade 2.3.4.4b.
So I am confused. They are purchasing a vaccine for a disease that is currently not present, and the vaccine is based on a different strain than the one that is currently circulating in North America?
(maybe some cross immunity can be achieved, but is certainly not optimal, especially for a disease that is currently not present in humans).
Can someone help me understand this all?