Vaccination decision crucial

Scottish farm leaders are set for a showdown with Defra over how the vaccination programme to tackle the threat of bluetongue is carried out.

Crunch talks - involving all four UK authorities - were scheduled for Thursday. Soundings from Whitehall suggest that Defra is favouring voluntary vaccination for those in infected areas south of the Border. There are also fears that this could already be a "done deal".
By contrast, both NFU Scotland the Scottish Beef Cattle Association have stated that they want it made compulsory.
The National Sheep Association's Scottish officer, George Milne, was of similar mind, and suggested that, even if Defra wins the day, Scotland could go it alone.
Mr Milne told The Scottish Farmer: "From a Scottish point of view, it would be better to go down the compulsory road. Defra has ordered the vaccine, so you could argue they are entitled to say how it's used.
"However, when Scotland eventually comes to vaccinate, we could stipulate that it be compulsory, irrespective of Defra's view."
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "There is recognition by the Scottish industry that initial vaccine supplies should be targeted at where the disease currently is."The implementation of the vaccination campaign has implications for the whole of the UK. Thursday's meeting will see a cross UK government and industry discussion which will feed into the finalisation of the UK vaccination strategy before it is submitted to Brussels.
The talks come hot on the heels of Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead announcing that Scottish farmers could face fines of £5000 or six months in jail if they fail to comply with new laws designed to stop bluetongue virus spreading north of the Border.
The new laws mean that livestock coming to Scotland from restricted zones must be checked to ensure that all necessary conditions have been met and that pre-movement testing has taken place.
Post-movement testing will be performed on livestock not previously tested and any further necessary action will be taken. The checks are in addition to the legal requirement on farmers to report the movement of animals from any restricted area to the Scottish Government within three days of the livestock arriving.
Mr Lochhead said: "It is crucially important to keep this disease out of Scotland for as long as possible. Action will be taken against anyone breaching these regulations."
NFUS vice-president Nigel Miller warned that Defra's plans to use voluntary vaccination were doomed to failure.
Mr Miller, who is also a vet, said: "It is necessary to have an 85% vaccination rate to be successful and you have to make it almost compulsory to get that figure.
"If you are going to vaccinate then do it properly. I don't see any reason for going for a voluntary approach and allowing the virus to drift northwards.
"Europe says it will refund the cost of the vaccine 100% and 50% of the application costs. Already 22million doses of vaccine have been ordered from Intervet, but it won't be ready until May at the earliest."

---

'An effective vaccination policy is essential and this can only properly be effected by a compulsory scheme' - Brian Simpson

---

Stressing that the second peak of midge activity was expected in August, Mr Miller added: "We have a bit of time, but ineffective vaccination will cause serious problems. Unless we see a real change in the vaccination programme then we have a very difficult time ahead."
The SBCA's development executive, Brian Simpson, said: "We must ensure that the disease is controlled and eradicated from the current protection zone in England.
"An effective vaccination policy is essential and this can only properly be effected by a compulsory scheme - how else can you set out to confidently get on top of this disease if you are guessing at the likely uptake of voluntary vaccination."
"SBCA understands the financial consequences and administration burden of a compulsory scheme, but hopefullly we will be able to explore ways of dealing with this with government officials."

NFUS is also urging government to keep an eye on the set dates for the Vector Free Period - the period during which midge activity is deemed to be at its lowest. Already this week, temperatures in some parts of the country have reached 15 degrees, the temperature at which midges can successfully transmit virus.

A bluetongue new protection zone has been set up after an outbreak was found in Greater London. It covers parts of west and north London, extending into Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. There are now 75 confirmed cases south of the Border. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland has reported it's first case in an animal imported from The Netherlands.

4:42pm Friday 15th February 2008

Print   Email this