A press release yesterday from the ubiquitous Lord Rooker http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/071219h.htm announced that Defra have ordered 22.5m doses of BTV8 vaccine from Intervet.

Although the release repeats the originally stated nonsense of a vaccine bank from which farmers can purchase vaccine, it also states:

"Defra is urgently continuing work on developing a detailed plan with Bluetongue scientific experts, representatives of the farming industry and others as to how a vaccination programme would work. We will discuss this plan further with external scientific experts and stakeholders."

Does this mean they are actually changing their minds and considering a properly constructed plan which will attract EU funding?

Jacobus:

Does this mean they are actually changing their minds and considering a properly constructed plan which will attract EU funding?

I've read that the stumbling block might be 'not good enough' individual traceability of sheep for EU funding of BT vaccination.

Joyce 

I read that that the Welsh Government have also tendered for/ordered 2.5 million doses of vaccine, which begs the question, what are the Scottish Government doing for their farmers/crofters?

I was waiting for them to say that they put the order to Merial especially seeing the fact they have been going off and on because of FMD. Could it be that they are gradually gets so resembalance of common sense.