DEFRA orders 22.5m doses of bluetongue vaccine from Intervet

DEFRA has announced that it is placing a firm order with pharmaceutical company Intervet to supply 22.5m doses of bluetongue vaccine, but farmers will be expected to pay for the vaccine should they wish to treat susceptible stock.

This follows a full assessment of the three bids submitted during the tender process announced by DEFRA on 1 November. The decision means Merial and Fort Dodge lose out.

Although no suitable vaccine is currently available for the strain of bluetongue circulating in England (serotype 8), this order will ensure that vaccine will be available as early as possible next summer to control the impact of the disease and ease movement restrictions on vaccinated animals.

A DEFRA statement said: “In keeping with the principles set out in the Bluetongue Control Strategy, which was developed in partnership with the farming industry, livestock keepers will be offered the opportunity to purchase vaccine from the vaccine bank.”

Junior DEFRA minister Jeff Rooker said: “I am pleased to announce that, following careful assessment of tenders for bluetongue vaccine, Defra has chosen Intervet to supply 22.5 million doses. This decision is based on consideration of technical specification and price, and I am confident that the Intervet vaccine will offer the best value and most effective option to farmers.”

DEFRA is continuing work on developing a detailed plan with representatives of the farming industry and others as to how a vaccination programme would work.

DEFRA orders 22.5m doses of bluetongue vaccine from Intervet.