Iowa-based vaccine producer Harrisvaccines today announced it has been awarded a contract to provide Avian Influenza H5 vaccine to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This action is being taken to develop the agency’s National Veterinary Stockpile and does not signal a decision to vaccinate for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The company in September received a conditional license for a vaccine for the HPAI strain. The total amount of the award is $6 million, and fulfillment will span two years. The formation of an H5 vaccine stockpile is a crucial step toward preventing a resurgence of the deadly virus, the company said. Harrisvaccines was the only U.S.-based company to be awarded a portion of the stockpile solicitation. The USDA has requested that Harrisvaccines provide a total of 48 million doses, 25 million of which will be provided within 45 days. To date, nearly 50 million chickens and turkeys have been lost to this virus.