On 3 March, a technical meeting on HPAI Vaccination: Approach, tools, knowledge, and experience for the Americas will take place virtually. This interactive meeting is intended to provide the scientific knowledge and discuss the strengths and limitations of the use of vaccination against AI, based on the latest scientific developments and the relevant field experience on the use of vaccination as complementary tool for the control of avian influenza.
Global outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in poultry and wild birds have been happening periodically over the past 20 years impacting different regions of the world. By the end of 2022, in response to the first outbreaks detected in Central and South America, the Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs of the Americas, approved the creation of the Standing Group of Experts on Avian Influenza (SGE-IA).
Recommendations from the first meeting of the SGE-AI, included to reinforce and strengthen surveillance in domestic (commercial and backyard) poultry, as well as wild birds, enhance biosecurity and to discuss when and how vaccination could be considered as a relevant ancillary control tool.
Regarding the use of vaccination, participants of the SGE-AI recognized that although the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) existing standard provides the conditions for its use, there is limited information on country experiences, the scientific state of play, and other specific considerations taken by each Country. Hence, there is a need for a technical high-level discussion on the topic.
Following the recommendation of the SGE-AI, a meeting is organized to share current scientific knowledge and relevant field experience available to help Members to advance in their consideration to use vaccination against HPAI and discuss on the different impacts to consider when designing HPAI vaccination strategies, based on the Chapter 4.18 of the Terrestrial Code.
The meeting is open to Delegates and technical staff from the Veterinary Services, and national representatives from the poultry value chain. In addition, representatives from International and Regional Organizations as well as private sector regional associations shall participate.
Date: 3rd March 2023
2 sessions
