First bluetongue combination vaccine available

The first combination vaccine for bluetongue serotypes 1 and 8 will shortly be available in the UK, after its launch in Spain this week.

Fort Dodge launched the combination vaccine after obtaining a provisional licence for use of combination vaccines Zulvac 1+8 Bovis and Zulvac 1+8 Ovis vaccine in Spain.

Vaccine development was triggered by recent outbreaks of both serotypes of the disease in the same areas of France and Spain, says Fort Dodge’s Andrew Wylie.

“The new situation where bluetongue serotypes are mixing has created difficult situations for farmers as mono-valent vaccines provide no cross-protection against other serotypes. We look forward to making the vaccines available to farmers in the UK and other European countries at the earliest,” he says.