While the approval has been given, there is no licence available yet. Licences and details around accessing and using the vaccine will follow in the coming days.
Defra has said available licences to allow use will include geographically targeted licences, initially in high-risk counties as part of a phased approach. Counties identified as high-risk include Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.
English keepers outside of these high-risk counties will be able to apply for specific licences through the APHA should they wish to use the vaccine.
General licences will be subject to risk assessment.
Free testing remains available to livestock keepers in high-risk counties. To find out more, visit: GOV.UK | Bluetongue: get free testing for your animals.
How the vaccines work
Defra has stressed that, unlike other BTV vaccines, these three available vaccines are suppressive, not preventative. This means they will not prevent your animals from being infected or being infectious, although they may reduce the clinical signs experienced.
Therefore all movement controls and trade restrictions in place will still apply to vaccinated animals.
Farmers will need to contact their private vet if they want to use any of the available BTV-3 vaccines.
They will need a written prescription from a vet and the vaccine will need to be supplied by the vet. It can be administered by the farmer providing a medicine record is maintained and made available for inspection. Animals must be permanently marked with official IDs.
“We must now ensure that there is enough availability for livestock farmers in the high-risk area to use if they wish.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
Vets will need to inform Defra on a weekly basis of the number of doses prescribed and the number of farms to allow Defra to monitor the uptake.
If you're considering vaccination, Defra recommends you start the conversation with your private vet as soon as possible.
Members should keep regularly checking our bluetongue essential information page for the latest news and updates.
Ever-changing situation
Responding to the news, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “As the bluetongue virus continues to spread, the announcement of an emergency authorisation for the BTV-3 vaccines is great news.
“We must now ensure that there is enough availability for livestock farmers in the high-risk area to use if they wish.”
Tom said that while the vaccines “make no claim to reduce infectivity, they do appear to reduce mortality and the severity of clinical signs – they will suppress the virus, not prevent it”.
“So, while they won’t stop animals from becoming infected, they could reduce the impact of the disease on individual animals and therefore provide an animal welfare benefit.”
Tom urged livestock keepers to remain vigilant and report concerns quickly to their vet or the APHA.
He added: “We also encourage all livestock keepers to comply with any APHA testing requests. The NFU is continuing to work closely with Defra and APHA to ensure that licences to permit movements within the Restricted Zone are available to farmers.”
These vaccines are being used in mainland Europe against BTV-3. These are unlicensed medicines but have been approved in the EU for emergency use.
For more information, visit: GOV.UK | BTV-3 vaccine permits.
