Beekeepers around the world are always on the lookout for ways to keep their colonies strong and healthy. One of the most promising innovations in honeybee health is the queen bee vaccine designed by Dalan Animal Health to protect against American foulbrood (AFB), a devastating bacterial disease that can wipe out entire hives. However, recent research suggests that this vaccine may offer additional benefits beyond its original purpose—it appears to help protect against the notorious deformed wing virus (DWV) as well.

This cutting-edge honeybee research matters because if you haven’t been paying attention-honeybees really need our help. With the recent honeybee losses and budget cuts to science and research, beekeepers need to make informed decisions on how we move forward with our beehives.

The Threat of American Foulbrood and Deformed Wing Virus

American Foul Brood is one of the most destructive bacterial infections affecting honeybees, and once a colony is infected, it often has to be destroyed to prevent the spread. This is why the development of a queen bee vaccine to build immunity against AFB has been a game-changer in the beekeeping industry. While AFW isn’t super common it does occur and it has devastating effects for both beekeepers and their beloved bees.

At this time, most of the folks purchasing the vaccinated Queen’s have been commercial beekeepers but anyone can purchase one. The most exciting part for me as a beekeeper (who works with feral hives doing removals) is the research forming about Deformed Wing Virus-which you can read more about here.

{A Case Study}

Deformed Wing Virus (DFW) has been a growing concern among beekeepers worldwide. Spread primarily by the parasitic Varroa mite, this virus causes severe wing deformities in bees, leading to reduced foraging ability and early death. While there have been treatments aimed at controlling Varroa mites, the possibility of a vaccine indirectly aiding in the fight against DWV is an exciting and unexpected development. This is how I look forward to using the vaccine because I often see DFW in the removals that I do.

I currently have a colony with an extremely high mite load and I knew because I found these drones wandering on the ground in front of the hive.

I conducted an alcohol wash test for mites and honestly, I couldn’t believe how many mites this colony has…one hundred sixty one! An alcohol wash captures around a cup of bees which is about 300 bees. That means every 300 bees there are around 160 mites in this poor hive!

How the Queen Bee Vaccine Works

I definately had a lot of questions about this and I am sure you do, too. Check out Dalan’s website for these FAQ’s to learn more. The queen bee vaccine works through a process called transgenerational immune priming. Essentially, when a queen ingests the vaccine, she passes immunity signals to her offspring, helping them resist infections. While initially designed for AFB, studies indicate that this same immune-boosting effect may provide protection against DWV, strengthening colony resilience against multiple threats. You can see on this chart how far along the vaccine for DFW is in the United States.

How This Matters for Everyday Beekeepers

For backyard and commercial beekeepers alike, disease management is one of the biggest challenges in maintaining healthy hives. Traditional methods of combating AFB and DWV often involve antibiotics, hive destruction, or Varroa mite treatments—some of which can be costly and time-consuming.

With a queen bee vaccine that helps protect against both AFB and DWV, beekeepers have an additional tool in their arsenal. Fewer infected bees mean stronger colonies, higher honey yields, and a reduced need for chemical treatments. This is a significant step forward in sustainable beekeeping and pollinator health. So far, experimental trials across 400 commercial hives have shown an 83% reduction in the virus levels. Anything above 65% to 70% is considered effective and this is way beyond that!

If you are interested in purchasing your own vaccinated queen they can be found at the following retailers.

Looking to the Future

While more research is needed to fully understand the vaccine’s impact on DWV, early findings are promising. As science continues to advance, innovations like this could change the way beekeepers approach hive management, ensuring that honeybee populations remain strong and productive for years to come.

For beekeepers, whether hobbyists or professionals, the queen bee vaccine represents a major breakthrough—not just in protecting against AFB but in potentially strengthening colonies against multiple threats. This is more than just good news for beekeepers; it’s a win for global agriculture and pollinator conservation.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting development in honeybee health!