AM6-USDA plans to mass vax poultry Nicolas Hulscher - Alison Morrow

In a startling exploration of the USDA's potential plan to vaccinate poultry against bird flu, Nicholas Holshor, an epidemiologist from the McCulloch Foundation, reveals alarming implications hidden beneath the surface of this ambitious initiative. The episode dives deep into the risks surrounding mass vaccination, underscoring research that indicates such actions could accelerate mutation rates, potentially giving rise to new strains of the virus that pose a heightened risk to human health. With the H5N2 vaccine by Zotus on the table—a leaky, non-sterilizing vaccine—Holshor explains the precarious balance between protecting poultry and risking the emergence of highly transmissible variants. He challenges listeners to reconsider what it means for the safety of our food supply and public health at large. Amid the backdrop of funding shifts under the Biden administration, there's an urgent conversation about the implications of development and rollout: Could vaccinated poultry or their eggs carry unintended consequences for consumers? Join us as we dissect how perceptions of the bird flu threat are shaped by media narratives and delve into the motivations driving both public worry and governmental action. We explore questions about the safety of consuming products from vaccinated birds and whether hatchery practices will soon change, raising the stakes for those sourcing their own poultry. This episode unravels the complexities of poultry vaccination, highlighting what might be at stake for families and communities if this plan moves forward without thorough scrutiny.