On 24 February, the grandeur of the Grand Egyptian Museum proved to be the perfect backdrop for the announcement of a pivotal step in the field of vaccination, gathering experts and stakeholders from Egypt and beyond.
A press conference was held to mark the global launch of Vaxxitek COBRA, a revolutionary vaccine designed by Boehringer Ingelheim, a research-driven biopharmaceutical company, to protect poultry against multiple diseases, including avian influenza (H5), Marek’s disease, and infectious bursal disease (IBD), all with just one dose.
Before the conference, Ahram Online spoke to Dr. David Swayne, former laboratory director at the USDA and Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia, USA, and Mr. Taoufik Rawi, head of franchise and poultry, at Boehringer Ingelheim.
Ahram Online: Why is this vaccine groundbreaking in Egypt?
Taoufik Rawi: With its vast numbers and lack of cultural and religious prohibitions regarding its consumption, poultry is the primary source of protein worldwide, and global consumption is predicted to increase by 10 to 12 percent.
This makes it crucial to maintain a steady flow of healthy poultry through vaccination against avian flu and other major diseases.
The vaccine launch represents another advancement in avian influenza prevention, both in terms of coverage and convenience, and aims to protect chickens from health threats.
The new three-in-one vaccine is quick and effective; it combines broad protection against the most prevalent H5 avian influenza clades and two major poultry diseases in just one shot.
Boehringer Ingelheim is primarily focused on prevention through vaccination, and we have been providing the industry with avian flu vaccines for more than 40 years. Each decade, we have introduced new technologies.
We used COBRA (Computationally Optimized Broadly Reactive Antigen) technology to create a unique antigen sequence that protects the most prevalent and infectious H5 clades. We are proud that this development stemmed from our research and development efforts.
AO: When was the vaccine certified, and when will it be available in Egypt?
TR: It was certified first in the US in 2023 and will be available in Egypt starting tomorrow, as we presented results proving the vaccine efficacy in the Egyptian poultry sector.
Introducing the vaccine in Egypt marks a significant milestone. It offers poultry farmers a powerful solution to enhance flock immunity and protect against major diseases, including H5 avian influenza.
This launch represents a pivotal step in strengthening poultry production and ensuring sustainable growth opportunities for the industry.
AO: How does the vaccination process impact economic welfare and livestock?
TR: We know that vaccination has tremendous positive economic effects in many countries. For instance, its introduction in France yielded significant economic benefits, which were highly publicized, but the exact impact depends on each country's specific case.
AO: What are the hazards of avian flu and other viruses to poultry, and the importance of vaccines?
David Swayne: In the US, we have suffered from avian flu and its impact on poultry for the last three years, leading to an eight-percent fall in egg production. Such a problem is understandably magnified in many countries that strive to maintain chicken production as an affordable protein source.
Avian influenza, commonly known as avian flu or bird flu, is a highly contagious disease affecting domestic and wild birds. H5 is one of the most prevalent avian influenza virus strains and is endemic in several countries where it is present all year round. In these countries, vaccination is necessary to prevent the disease from spreading further. Due to the continuous evolution of the virus and the emergence of many variants, the need for innovative vaccine solutions to manage avian flu remains urgent, underscoring the importance of the newly announced vaccination.
AO: Is there scepticism about poultry vaccines, like with human vaccines?
DS: Without a shred of doubt, vaccination is of utmost importance for the health of individuals and communities at large, and the same applies to birds and poultry.
Vaccination is essential to keep viruses at bay, especially since two-thirds of emerging viruses come from animals to humans.
Bird vaccination is essential for poultry and adds value by reducing human exposure to these diseases.
As with antibiotics, administering vaccines should be done correctly and according to sound scientific regulations to ensure their maximum efficacy and benefit.
AO: What are the healthcare challenges on the horizon for poultry?
DS: It is not just about poultry; many other kinds of livestock can be affected by emerging viruses. Therefore, it is critical to maintain a transparent surveillance mechanism in each country to monitor and detect new sequences that could pose potential hazards, produce vaccines in response, and share this information globally with relevant scientific communities.
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