The government has granted permit for the use of three unauthorised bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines in the UK as cases continue to rise.

Although approval has been given, there is not yet a formal licence in place, with further details regarding vaccine access and usage to be provided in the coming days.

These vaccines are currently in use across mainland Europe to combat BTV-3, having been approved by the EU for emergency use.

Defra stated that available licences will include geographically focused permits, initially targeting high-risk counties as part of a phased rollout.

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High-risk counties identified include Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and East Sussex.

There have been several confirmed BTV-3 cases on farms, but the virus remains largely concentrated in the East of England.

Farmers outside these high-risk counties will be able to apply for specific licences through the APHA if they wish to use the vaccine.

General licences will be subject to risk assessments, and free testing will continue to be offered to farmers in high-risk areas.

Defra emphasised that, unlike other BTV vaccines, these three available vaccines are suppressive rather than preventative.

This means they will not stop animals from becoming infected or contagious, although they may lessen the severity of clinical symptoms.

As a result, all existing movement controls and trade restrictions will continue to apply to vaccinated animals, according to Defra.

Farmers interested in using any of the available BTV vaccines will need to consult with their private vet.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw described the emergency authorisation for the BTV-3 vaccines as 'great news.'

He added: “We must now ensure that there is enough availability for livestock farmers in the high-risk area to use if they wish.”

Bradshaw noted that although the vaccines don’t claim to reduce infectivity, they seem to reduce mortality and the severity of symptoms.

“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.” he said.

Defra clarified that farmers would need a written prescription from a veterinarian, and the vaccines must be supplied by the vet.

Farmers can administer the vaccines themselves, provided a proper medicine record is maintained and available for inspection. Animals must be permanently marked with official IDs.

Vets are required to report to Defra on a weekly basis the number of doses prescribed and the number of farms involved to help the government track vaccine uptake.