The U.S. authorities pays the vaccine maker Moderna $176 million to develop a pandemic vaccine that could possibly be used to deal with chook flu in individuals as instances in dairy cows proceed to mount throughout the nation, federal officers introduced Tuesday. The funds are focused for launch by way of the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies and pays for continued growth of a vaccine that makes use of the identical mRNA expertise that allowed speedy growth and rollout of vaccines to guard in opposition to COVID-19. The award was made by way of the Biomedical Superior Analysis and Improvement Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical remedies for potential pandemics. Moderna will launch trials to check the protection and effectiveness of a vaccine that could possibly be used to scale up a response to a chook flu pandemic, if wanted. The H5N1 virus was detected earlier this yr in dairy cows and has unfold to greater than 135 herds in 12 states and contaminated three individuals up to now, all with gentle instances. Federal well being officers stress that the chance to the broader inhabitants stays low. __The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.