What is the H5n1 Vaccine?

The H5N1 vaccine is the vaccine administered to patients who have been diagnosed with the bird flu. The bird flu or avian flu is an influenza type virus that commonly occurs in birds and is highly contagious among the species. The virus has killed millions upon millions of birds according to avian flu facts. Human outbreaks of the bird flu have been documented in areas in Southeast Asia, primarily in Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. Bird flu treatment consists of H5n1 vaccine to prevent further outbreak.

The H5N1 vaccine is not publicly administered but rather governmentally given in order to document the virus and allow for the CDC or Center for Disease Control to monitor and keep track of avian flu facts and outbreaks. The vaccine is not available commercially or offered to the general public.

The H5N1 vaccine is approved by the FDA and offers a safeguard in the event of a pandemic outbreak. This provides the public with peace of mind. Although there have never been documented cases in the USA, the government is prepared. The government is hanging on to stockpiles of the vaccine because it has not been proven that the virus passes efficiently from one person to another. It is normally passed from a bird to a person. Most of those people affected by the virus have been exposed to poultry in small farms or open-air markets.

The H5N1 vaccine is not given as bird flu treatment but rather as an aid in the preparation if an outbreak or emergency were to occur.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.