The Vermont Senate has passed a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to expedite the creation and implementation of a national reserve and distribution system for avian influenza vaccines, specifically targeting small- and medium-sized poultry farms. This call to action comes in response to the ongoing crisis of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, which has affected over 168 million birds across the United States, leading to significant outbreaks and economic challenges for poultry farmers. While the CDC has assessed the risk to humans as low, there have been reported cases and fatalities, highlighting the need for a proactive approach to mitigate the virus's impact.

The resolution emphasizes the urgency of establishing a vaccine reserve, particularly following the USDA's recent conditional licensing of a new avian influenza vaccine by Zoetis. The Senate points to the successful federal response to the COVID-19 vaccine distribution as a model for how a similar strategy could be applied to combat the avian flu crisis. The resolution concludes by directing the Secretary of the Senate to communicate this urgent request to key federal and state officials, reinforcing the need for a decisive federal response to protect the poultry industry and public health.