H5N1 vaccines have been previously licensed, and millions are in the national stockpile. But even with the news of the country’s first human death due to bird flu, vaccination isn’t yet recommended.

While drugmakers are hard at work on the shots, they’re not yet ready to blunt the impact of a potential pandemic.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University are working on a novel approach to influenza vaccination that could provide broad protection against multiple strains — including the H5N1 bird flu virus — without the yearly injection.

A pandemic is not inevitable, scientists say. But the outbreak has passed worrisome milestones in recent weeks, including cattle that may have been reinfected.

Moderna is working with the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a vaccine to combat bird flu. Human to human transmission has not yet been reported.