Merial awarded Defra's Bluetongue vaccine tender

Following the award of the second Defra tender, Merial Animal Health is now preparing to deliver bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV8) vaccine to England and Wales, starting in July. 

Merial Head of Production Animal Business, Graham Davenport said the company would be working hard to ensure there is continuity of supply for farmers in England and Wales.

All Merial's bluetongue vaccines, world-wide are manufactured in Pirbright Vaccines Centre in Surrey before being finished in Lyon, France.

UK's order adds to previous bluetongue vaccine orders, beginning back in 2004, from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Merial would also be putting in place the necessary veterinary technical support before the vaccines' arrival in July.

Defra announced on 11 June that it is placing an order with Merial to deliver 13 million doses of BTV8 vaccine, 8 million for use in England and 5 million for use in Wales. The Merial vaccine, BTVPUR AlSap 8, will be available in 100ml bottles and is expected to require one 1ml dose in sheep and two 1ml doses in cattle, given four weeks apart.