The letter, first reported by Reuters and led by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD), stressed the need for renewed action as bird flu cases typically increase during winter. Signatories also included Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and multiple Republican and Democratic members of the Agriculture Committee.
"Any finalized vaccine strategy must take into account feedback from animal health stakeholders, industry experts, and be grounded in sound science," the senators wrote. They further urged the Department of Agriculture to "work closely with trading partners and impacted producers to fully assess and manage any potential trade implications" of poultry vaccination.
Since the current outbreak began in 2022, more than 180 million chickens, turkeys, and other poultry have been culled in the United States to contain the virus. In June, the U.S. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it was developing a possible vaccination plan for poultry but has not released additional details.
A USDA spokesperson told that enhanced on-farm biosecurity remains the most effective tool to limit disease spread and that the department's overall response "is grounded in decades of scientifically validated epidemiological practices and biosecurity protocols."
Earlier this year, in March, the USDA committed $100 million toward research on vaccines and treatments for egg-laying hens, receiving 417 funding proposals. No further awards or timelines have been disclosed.
The U.S. poultry sector remains divided on vaccination, largely due to concerns that vaccinated flocks could face export restrictions from certain trading partners. As of late November, the USDA confirmed it had not yet shared any poultry vaccination plan with international counterparts.
The senators’ letter emphasizes the importance of balancing domestic disease control with continued access to global markets while relying on scientific evidence and broad stakeholder input.
