Finland is set to become the first nation to offer bird flu vaccinations, as it plans to administer 10,000 doses of the vaccine to high-risk workers next week. Concerns have been growing about the virus potentially jumping from animals to humans. The vaccinations will be given to individuals who work closely with animals, such as poultry and fur farm workers.

The vaccine will be delivered in two doses, with at least a week apart, once they are received from stockpiles in central Europe. Finnish officials have stated that the vaccine targets the H5 protein on the virus, which is expected to provide effective protection against H5N1 infections.

Last year, Finland experienced an outbreak of bird flu on 27 fur farms, which resulted in the culling of around 485,000 animals to prevent further spread of the disease. Although no human infections were recorded, this outbreak prompted the country to order the rollout of the vaccine.

The vaccines will be provided as part of a European Union campaign to procure 40 million doses in 15 countries. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) stated that the vaccine will be offered to individuals aged 18 and above who are at an increased risk of contracting avian influenza due to their work or other circumstances.

This includes individuals working on fur and poultry farms, lab technicians handling bird flu samples, veterinarians in areas with fur farms, workers in sanctuaries caring for wild birds, individuals working on farms, and those involved in cleaning slaughterhouses and animal housing.

If a human infection is detected, the close contacts of the infected person will also be administered the vaccine. Health officials have expressed confidence that the vaccine will trigger sufficient antibodies to protect individuals against bird flu infections. Previous studies involving 3,400 people showed that the vaccine produced protective antibody levels in 90 percent of individuals under 60 years old and 80 percent of those over 60 years old.

The vaccine, sourced from the Australian company CSL Seqirus, has been deemed safe to use. In the United States, 4.8 million doses of a bird flu vaccine are set to be delivered in late summer, although distribution plans have not been confirmed.

The US has been dealing with a major bird flu outbreak among cows, with 118 dairy cow herds in 12 states reporting H5N1 cases. Three human cases have been reported, with individuals experiencing swelling of the eyes and respiratory symptoms. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assured that the risk to humans is low.

Finland's decision to roll out the bird flu vaccine is aimed at minimizing the risk of the virus spreading to humans. The country has a heightened risk due to its outdoor fur farms, where animals can come into contact with wild animals, increasing the chances of contracting and transmitting the virus. Particularly concerning are minks, as they have similar receptors in their lungs to humans, making them potential "mixing vessels" for spreading the virus.

By proactively offering bird flu vaccinations to high-risk workers, Finland hopes to safeguard both animal and human populations and prevent any potential spread of the virus.