U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, advocated for the use of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) vaccines for poultry, and asked agriculture secretary nominee Brooke Rollins to provide a detailed plan for the use to prevent the spread of the disease.
In a letter to Rollins, whose nomination has not yet been confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Heinrich wrote: “Vaccinating all laying hens in the United States against HPAI will help lower egg prices for consumers, decrease production losses for farmers and ultimately decrease the cost to taxpayers through reduced indemnity payments.”
Heinrich asked that Rollins respond to him in writing within two weeks, revealing her plan “to lower egg and poultry prices for consumers through vaccination efforts, while preserving export markets to American farmers.”
Heinrich requested that Rollins provide answers to the following questions and requests:
- Plan to Lower Prices: “Please share in detail your plan to lower egg and poultry prices through vaccination efforts and other means, including a complete vaccination strategy, use case, and plan to procure, stockpile, distribute, deploy, administer, and track the use of poultry H5N1 vaccines.”
- Deployment Considerations: “What considerations need to be weighed while deploying H5N1 vaccinations to all laying hens in domestic egg production? Please provide specifics about how you propose to prioritize certain flocks or regions based on risk and export profile to maximize reductions in cost paid by American consumers for poultry and egg products?”
- Better Trade Agreements for American Farmers: “Once you have reviewed our poultry trade agreements in consultation with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), please provide a plan that describes the actions the Administration will take to renegotiate trade agreements to permit the export of poultry and poultry products derived from birds that have been vaccinated. American farmers who want to keep their livelihoods intact and prices affordable for American families will look to you and the USTR to quickly renegotiate important trade agreements to maintain and expand foreign markets.”
- USDA Research Plan: “What is your plan for the USDA research that is needed to best match vaccines to the current strain of the virus and to expand production and deployment of effective vaccinations for poultry against all currently circulating variants of H5N1?”
- Vaccination Logistics: “How will you handle the logistics and costs associated with vaccination as well as enhanced surveillance and monitoring of flocks in a way that lowers prices for the American consumer?”
- Budget: “What budget will you assign to the USDA’s efforts to manage the HPAI outbreak and lower egg and poultry prices for families, including through vaccination and other means?”
Rollins has not publicly stated that she will implement the use of HPAI vaccines. During her nomination hearing with the U.S. Senate Committee for Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, she acknowledged she, at least for the time being, had a limited knowledge about HPAI.
“We must work with the great men and women of USDA, the stakeholder communities and state leaders … to immediately and comprehensively get a handle on the state of animal disease outbreaks,” Rollins said.
“There is a lot that I have to learn on this, and as I mentioned in my opening statement, one of the very top priorities,” she added later in her testimony.
The committee unanimously gave its endorsement to Rollins’ nomination, and her confirmation vote is expected to come soon.
