DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (News Release ref :
119/08) issued by The Government News Network on 30 April 2008
Environment
Secretary Hilary Benn today announced that the first batch of
Bluetongue vaccine, ordered from Intervet last year, is being
released to wholesalers and is ready for distribution to the
Protection Zones in England.
The first batch of one million doses of the vaccine is now
available in 20-dose bottles. A larger batch of up to two million
doses, produced in 50-dose bottles, is expected to follow within a
few days. The vaccine will require one dose in sheep and two
doses, given three weeks apart, in cattle.
Hilary Benn said, "We have worked very closely with a core
group of industry experts throughout this process, and I am very
pleased with the rapid progress that Intervet has made to develop
and produce this new vaccine ahead of schedule and in a very tight timescale.
"The success of our control and vaccination strategy will
ultimately depend on the industry itself, and I strongly support
the industry-led campaign to promote vaccination. The message to
animal keepers is clear: 'Don't hesitate, vaccinate'".
Under EU law, vaccination is only allowed in a Protection Zone -
a designated area with restrictions in place to prevent an
outbreak spreading. The Bluetongue vaccination plan sets out how
vaccination will be rolled out and the Protection Zone expanded
county by county across England, taking into account the
availability of vaccine and the level of disease risk.
In line with the principles set out in the roll-out plan, the
first two batches of vaccine will, according to the release
schedule detailed above, be made available to livestock keepers in
the Protection Zones. As soon as further batches of vaccine are
delivered, vaccine will be rolled out to the rest of the counties
in the second priority phase for vaccination, before progressing
more broadly across England county by county. Further batches of
vaccine will be delivered by Intervet at regular intervals over
the summer.
Alick Simmons, Acting Chief Veterinary Officer, said
"Vaccination offers the only realistic prospect of
controlling Bluetongue. The release of the first batches of
vaccine is very good news. However, supplies will build up over
the summer and so I want to encourage farmers and veterinarians to
order and use the vaccine responsibly: vaccine can only be
obtained if it is intended for immediate use in the priority
areas. This will help maximise take up and minimise the risk of
the disease increasing in prevalence and range during 2008".
Notes to Editors
1. Further information about Bluetongue vaccination is available
on the Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/vaccination/index.htm
2. Vaccination will be rolled out in line with the strategy for
rolling out vaccination across England, which can be found on the
Defra website: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/vaccination/vaccination-rolloutplan.htm
Under EU law, vaccination can only be carried out in a Protection
Zone. As vaccine is delivered and once vaccination is progressing
across the Protection Zone, the intention is to extend or modify
the Zone on a county by county basis in order to permit further
vaccination. The strategy has been developed and agreed with the
core group of industry stakeholders. It is designed to be
flexible, taking into account the changing nature of the disease,
such as moving zones, the varying levels of disease risk in the
zones and the availability of vaccine.
3. The Protection Zones have been identified as priorities for
vaccination. Livestock keepers in these areas will be allowed to
purchase vaccine through their private vets. Vaccination will then
be rolled out by county, in line with further batches of vaccine
which Intervet will be delivering until the end of August.
4. Intervet UK Ltd, a part of Schering-Plough, an animal health
company, is based in Milton Keynes. For more information visit the
following websites: http://www.intervet.co.uk and
http://www.future-of-vaccination.co.uk.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
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