March 24, 2008

 

UK bluetongue vaccines insufficient to meet farm numbers

 

 

UK's recent release of 22.5 million doses of bluetongue vaccines have been reported to be insufficient as some farmers could not avail of the vaccine.

 

A meeting of beef and sheep farmers in Hexham mart in North England was told there will not be enough vaccines to go around.

 

However, the farmers were urged to place orders so the government would be prompted to adding 9 million more doses for the North.

 

Peter Morris, chief executive of the National Sheep Association (NSA), said the current order involved only 22 million doses for England and 2.5 million for Wales.

 

The containment of the disease is prioritized in the South of England, however it depends on the vaccine taking effect before the reappearance of the midges that spread it.

 

The UK vaccinations were made to first take place in the protection zone closest to the disease.

 

Morris, one of the six-member core group that advised the government on the disease, said the voluntary vaccination programme was the best method, but he said it required an unprecedented uptake from farmers.

 

There had never been such a large-scale voluntary approach to tackling an animal disease.

 

Chris Dodds, secretary of the Livestock Auctioneers Association (LAA), informed that they had asked ministers for more vaccine.

 

The bluetongue vaccines will be available in 50ml and 20ml bottles. Official figures show the wholesale price will be GBP22 (US$1,373) per 50ml bottle and GBP13 (US$1,026) for the smaller amount.