Researchers in the UK have initiated a large-scale clinical trial for a vaccine designed to protect against H5N1, a bird flu strain that has infected animal populations globally and poses a potential pandemic threat to humans. The vaccine employs mRNA technology, the same approach used in current coronavirus vaccines, which allows for rapid development and scaling of production if needed.
The trial aims to enroll 4,000 participants, with approximately three-quarters recruited across 26 sites in England and Scotland, and the remainder in the United States. Recruitment focuses on individuals working in the poultry industry and people over the age of 65, identified as the populations at greatest risk. The study will assess the vaccine’s safety profile and its ability to generate a protective immune response.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, the current threat to human populations remains low, with documented cases predominantly occurring through direct contact with infected animals. Since 2024, there have been 116 confirmed human infections globally following this pattern. The trial represents a proactive measure against potential human-to-human transmission, which scientists consider a realistic possibility despite not currently occurring at significant levels.
If successful, the vaccine could be manufactured at Moderna’s facility in Harwell, Oxfordshire, which currently produces coronavirus vaccines for the UK. The plant has the capacity to manufacture 100 million doses annually, expandable to 250 million doses during a pandemic. The mRNA approach offers advantages over traditional egg-based flu vaccine production methods, particularly when dealing with highly virulent avian flu strains that can destroy the eggs used in conventional manufacturing.
The trial received £40 million in funding from CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, after the US government reduced mRNA vaccine funding in August 2025. As part of the agreement, Moderna has committed to ensuring rapid and affordable vaccine access to lower and middle-income countries in any future pandemic, addressing equitable distribution concerns raised during the coronavirus outbreak.
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