CDC Launches $5 Million Initiative to Provide Seasonal Flu Shots to Farmworkers
Aiming to Prevent Bird Flu Pandemic Risk
CDC to Vaccinate 200,000 Farmworkers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching a $5 million initiative to provide seasonal flu shots to farmworkers in an effort to reduce the risk of a pandemic caused by avian influenza A H5N1 virus (bird flu).
The funding will be used to vaccinate 200,000 farmworkers against the seasonal flu in hopes of preventing reassortment with bird flu. Reassortment is the process by which two different influenza viruses exchange genetic material, creating a new virus that can be more dangerous.
"This is a critical step to protect the health of our farmworkers and the public," said CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky. "By vaccinating farmworkers, we can reduce the risk of a bird flu pandemic and protect the lives of millions of Americans."
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