In an effort to stave off future pandemic flu outbreaks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded $10.4 million in grants to the World Heath Organization (WHO). The grants will be used to work with developing countries towards flu vaccine production.
Over the past five years, the U.S. has given the WHO more than $40 million for vaccine manufacturing in various countries.
"Diseases do not respect borders so increasing the ability to make flu vaccine in any country helps every country reduce the spread of flu," says Robin Robinson, BARDA director, in a release. "While we continue to build vaccine manufacturing capacity in the United States, and develop new, faster technologies for producing vaccine domestically, we can increase pandemic preparedness worldwide by helping other countries take advantage of technology."
This latest round of funding comes through three sets of grants: $6.4 million for the Initiative for Vaccine Research; $1.2 million for technology training via North Carolina State University and Utah State's Center for Integrated Biosystems; and $2.6 million for adjuvant technology and development.
- read more in the HHS release