VTLEG#382914v.1
StateofVermont
SenateChamber
Montpelier,Vermont
SenateResolution
OfferedbySenatorsHardy,Collamore,Heffernan,MajorandPlunkett,
S.R.14.SenateresolutionrelatingtostronglyurgingtheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)andtheCentersfor
DiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC)toexpeditetheestablishmentandimplementationofanavianinfluenzavaccine
nationalreserveanddistributionsystemforsmall-andmedium-sizedpoultryfarms.
Whereas,accordingtotheUSDAAnimalandPlantHealthInspectionService(APHIS),thereisanHPAI(highly
pathogenicavianinfluenza)H5N1viruspresentworldwideandoutbreaksamongU.S.domesticbirds(includingpoultry)
arecontinuingtooccur,and
Whereas,asofApril9,2025,theCDCreportedthatHPAIH5N1hadstricken168,771,718birdsincommercial,
hobbyist,andbackyardpoultryflocksin1,680outbreaksacrossthecountry,and
Whereas,theseverityofthisavianfluoutbreakcannotbeminimized,and
Whereas,todate,theCDChasassessedthatHPAIH5N1posesalowrisktohumans,butnonetheless,onepersonhas
died,70caseshavebeenreported,andthepotentialforadditionalhumanimpactcannotbeignored,and
Whereas,APHIShascreatedafive-prongsetofresponsestotheanimalhealthcrisisencompassinginvestmentin
gold-standardbiosecuritymeasuresforallU.S.poultry;increasedrelieftoaidfarmersandaccelerationofrepopulation;
removalofunnecessaryregulatoryburdensonthechickenandeggindustrytofurtherinnovationandreducecustomer
prices;theexplorationofpathwaystowardvaccines,therapeutics,andotherstrategiesfortheprotectionofegg-laying
chickenstoreduceinstancesofdepopulation;andtheconsiderationoftemporaryimport-exportoptionstoreducecosts
andtheevaluationofinternationalbestpractices,and
Whereas,althoughthesestepsattempttoaddressaspectsofthecontinuingpresenceoftheHPAIH5N1avianvirusin
thenation’spoultryflocks,theremustbeamorecomprehensiveanddirectmeasuretohaltthespreadandreduce,ifnot
eliminate,thepresenceofthevirus,and
Whereas,onFebruary14,2025,theUSDAissuedaconditionallicensetoZoetisforanavianinfluenzavaccine,H5N2
Subtype,KilledVirus,intendedforuseinchickens,and
Whereas,althoughtheapprovalisconditionedonthe“demonstrationofsafety,purity,andreasonableexpectationof
efficacybasedonserologydata,”theneedforthisvaccineisimmediate,and
Whereas,thisnewZoetisvaccineisanupdatedversionofavaccineoriginallyissuedin2001and2002,whenan
avianinfluenzaoutbreakoccurredinSoutheastAsia,and
Whereas,in2014and2015,duringaprioravianfluoutbreak,thefederalgovernmentcreatedanationalavianflu
vaccinestockpile,which,whilenotused,wasreadyfordeployment,and
Whereas,therapidfederaldistributionofCOVID-19vaccinesdemonstratesthat,withthenecessaryplanning,the
complexlogisticsrequiredforanacceleratednationalstockpiling/deploymentofanavianfluvaccineispossible,and
Whereas,thecontinuingavianflucrisisanditsimpactoncommercial,hobby,andbackyardpoultryflocksdemandsa
decisiveandpromptfederalresponse,nowthereforebeit
ResolvedbytheSenate:
ThattheSenateoftheStateofVermontstronglyurgestheUSDAandtheCDCtoexpeditetheestablishmentand
implementationofanavianinfluenzavaccinenationalreserveanddistributionsystemforsmall-andmedium-sized
poultryfarms,andbeitfurther
Resolved:ThattheSecretaryoftheSenatebedirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontotheU.S.Secretaryof
Agriculture;theVermontSecretaryofAgriculture,FoodandMarkets;theActingDirectoroftheCDC;andtheVermont
CongressionalDelegation.