Thanks

Paul


-----Original Message-----
From: soaysheep@yahoogroups.com [mailto:soaysheep@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf
Of Juliet & Gordon
Sent: 12 February 2008 13:24
To: soaysheep@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [soaysheep] Bluetongue vaccination strategy - DEFRA Q & A

Defra's Bluetongue Vaccination Strategy

Information for Private Veterinary Practioners


Animal Health Divisional Offices have recently seen a rise in questions from
private practitioners seeking clarification of Defra's Bluetongue
vaccination strategy. This letter seeks to provide some clarity.

When will the vaccine be available?
An order has been placed with the pharmaceutical company Intervet to supply
22.5 million doses of inactivated BTV-8 Bluetongue vaccine. Intervet has
indicated that vaccine will begin to be available from May 2008. 20 million
doses are reserved for use in England and 2.5 million doses are reserved for
potential use in Wales. The UK was the first Member State affected by BTV-8
to place an order for vaccine.

In keeping with the principles set out in the Bluetongue Control Strategy,
which was developed in partnership with the farming industry, keepers of any
susceptible animals in the Protection Zone will be able to purchase vaccine
from the bank through their own veterinarian.

Why is it that only keepers in the Protection Zone can protect their
livestock?
Vaccination will not be allowed outside of the Protection Zone due to
restrictions under European legislation. If necessary, the Protection Zone
may be extended in order to permit vaccination in a larger area, allowing a
phased approach as vaccine comes on-stream. A decision as to whether to
extend the Protection Zone to allow wider vaccination has not yet been
taken.

Will this vaccine be available to animal keepers in Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland?
As European law requires that Bluetongue vaccine can only be used in
Protection Zones, the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern
Ireland have not ordered vaccine at this stage based on their veterinary
assessment of the risk of Bluetongue spread next year. However, they will
keep this situation under active review and could place an order if this
assessment changes. As Wales is currently outside the Protection Zone, Welsh
keepers will only be allowed to purchase and use vaccine from the bank if
and when the Protection Zone expands into Wales.

How much will the vaccine cost?
Defra is working with Intervet and veterinary wholesalers to finalise the
cost of vaccine to keepers. The vaccination process may also entail
additional costs such as veterinary administration or supervision of
vaccination in certain circumstances, and, potentially, pre-movement
testing. However the cost of purchasing and delivering vaccine will be
significantly less than the impact of the disease in a flock or herd.



How will the vaccine be used?
Defra is currently developing a detailed vaccination delivery plan with
scientific experts, representatives from farming and veterinary
organisations (including the BVA, the BCVA and the Sheep Veterinary
Society), Animal Health and the devolved administrations. This plan will be
published during February. Representatives from the farming industry have
indicated that they would prefer a simple, voluntary vaccination programme
which will:

a) allow vaccination to be rolled out as quickly as possible, as soon as the
vaccine is delivered;
b) reduce the cost of vaccination to a minimum by using existing delivery
chains and reducing regulatory burdens.

What are the benefits of vaccination?
For individual farmers, the potential benefits of vaccination include:

. protecting stock from the impact of Bluetongue by reducing losses, welfare
problems and chronic effects (including lameness, weight loss and reduced
milk production)
. facilitating the movement of vaccinated animals.

For the livestock industry as a whole, the potential benefits of vaccination
include:

. limiting disease spread geographically
. opportunity to avoid the experience in Northern Europe in 2007, of
dramatic mortality rates, production losses and economic hardship.

How will vaccination facilitate the movement of vaccinated animals?
Vaccinated animals will be allowed to move out of a Protection Zone provided
they meet certain criteria contained within Annex III of the Bluetongue
Regulation (Commission Regulation 1266/2007). Defra is working with Animal
Health, the Commission and veterinary organisations to determine how these
criteria can best be applied.

How will Bluetongue affect the UK's trading status?
Bluetongue vaccination is accepted by both the EU and OIE (the World
Organisation for Animal Health) as a valid method of controlling Bluetongue.
Within the EU, vaccinated animals should be able to be moved between
restricted zones (along the same lines as domestic trade) and we would
expect the impact on exports to third countries to be minimal.

Will vaccination have an effect on a farmer's organic status?
The Soil Association has indicated that the organic status of livestock is
not affected if vaccinated with an inactivated Bluetongue vaccine.


Further detailed information is available at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/bluetongue/control/index
.htm


11 February 2008



Soay sheep email discussion group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soaysheep/

Post message: soaysheep@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: soaysheep-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: soaysheep-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner: soaysheep-owner@yahoogroups.com



Yahoo! Groups Links