11 December 2025
In a formal letter addressed to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins, a coalition of United States Senators has urged the agency to prioritize and expedite a science-based vaccination strategy to combat High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI). The appeal, dated December 11, 2025, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach covering both poultry and livestock sectors impacted by the virus. The Senators highlighted the devastating scale of the current outbreak, which began in 2022. To date, HPAI has affected over 184.03 million birds across 1,905 flocks, including more than 21.1 million turkeys and 141.1 million layers, as well as 1,083 dairy herds nationwide. With infection rates already rising as winter approaches, the signatories stressed that renewed action is essential to safeguard animal health.
The Senators noted that a draft proposal for poultry vaccination is currently under review and urged the USDA to advance this process with "speed and diligence. Any finalized strategy must address all impacted species, specifically explicitly mentioning turkeys and egg-laying hens. The Senators concluded by emphasizing the critical need for clear communication. They requested that the rollout of any vaccine strategy be accompanied by direct guidance and transparent resources for producers, veterinarians, and state animal health officials.
