06 July 2026
After years of relying on strict culling and quarantine measures, Denmark appears poised to shift its strategy against Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). According to recent reports, Danish authorities are seriously evaluating the implementation of a nationwide vaccination program for commercial turkey flocks, with vaccinations potentially beginning as early as September.
The proposed program represents a major shift in Danish veterinary policy, driven in part by the success of comparable vaccination initiatives elsewhere in Europe.
Turkeys are exceptionally susceptible to HPAI, with mortality rates in affected flocks often approaching 100% within just a few days. To maximize protection, the Danish National Veterinary Institute (DK-VET) has proposed a prime-boost vaccination strategy consisting of:
- Prime dose: Administered to day-old poults at the hatchery using the recombinant vector vaccine Vaxxitek HVT+IBD+H5.
- Booster dose: Administered at approximately 36 days of age using an inactivated vaccine, such as Volvac B.E.S.T. AI+ND or Avimex's Vaxigen Flu-H5N8, to enhance and prolong the immune response.
In parallel, researchers at the University of Copenhagen are conducting clinical studies to determine the duration of immunity conferred by this vaccination regimen throughout the production cycle.
If the program receives final regulatory approval, Denmark is expected to begin vaccinating commercial turkey flocks in September. The timing has been strategically chosen to establish protective immunity before the onset of the autumn migration of wild birds, when the risk of HPAI introduction typically increases.
