Rollins rejects Grassley's vaccine suggestion for screwworms

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has stated that the Trump administration is carefully studying the potential for a vaccine against New World screwworms, emphasizing that the pest is a flesh-eating parasite rather than a virus or disease. The comments came after Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged Rollins to develop such a vaccine, expressing concern about potential pressure against vaccination from individuals unfamiliar with agriculture.

Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, told Rollins that she should prioritize agricultural interests and not be swayed by those who might oppose vaccination for the screwworm issue. He offered his support if she faced pressure from higher-ups.

Rollins clarified that she was not experiencing pressure to avoid creating a vaccine. She highlighted the risk that moving too quickly could lead to mutations, potentially spreading the pest to dairy cattle, beef cattle, and other livestock. She assured Grassley that while the administration is addressing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza through biosecurity and therapeutics, they are also thoroughly examining the possibilities for a screwworm vaccine.

In addition to vaccine research, the administration is deploying sterile flies in the United States, Mexico, and Panama to combat the screwworm infestation. Last month, the FDA issued an emergency authorization for an injectable treatment for dairy cattle, excluding calves intended for veal. Weekly, 4 million sterile flies are being released by air, with another 4 million deployed on the ground within 20 kilometers of reported infestations.