Bluetongue vaccine efficacy and availability concerns raised

The recent approval of the BTV-3 bluetongue vaccine for use in Scotland has been branded “reassuring” for sheep farmers, but questions remain over its efficacy and availability.

Sheep farmers are therefore advised to speak to their vets and consider the options carefully.

See also: Farmers urged to be on alert for bluetongue re-emergence

Vaccine efficacy

The National Sheep Association (NSA) Scottish-region chairman Peter Myles said it was vital for farmers to understand the challenges around bluetongue vaccine supply and the vaccine claims.

“Vaccinating will not protect livestock totally, but it should suppress symptoms and prevent death and major financial impacts,” he said.

Vaccinated animals may still become infectious or infected, but clinical signs and mortality are reduced.

According to NSA Scotland, costs vary according to supplier, product, and timing, and can range between the £2.40-£5 a dose.

The use of vaccines is non-compulsory and is the responsibility of individual businesses.

Vaccine availability

Those wanting to vaccinate their flocks might also face a wait of several weeks before the vaccine is available to them.

The NSA advises businesses wishing to vaccinate to put in an order now, to help show the level of interest in the UK and persuade companies to export enough to the UK.

Any livestock administered with any of the three BTV-3 vaccines (Syzavul BTV3, BLUEVAC-3, and Bultavo-3) in Scotland must be recorded through a ScotEID system.

Vaccine use for animals that are not livestock should be reported on the gov.uk website used by England and Wales.

Gauge the risk

To help in the decision-making process, a BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator has been developed to help farmers understand their return on investment from vaccinating their livestock.

The tool, developed by AHDB and produced by Ruminant Health and Welfare, takes farmers through several factors.

These include farm location, expected value of stock, stock density, stock movements, breeding stage of males and females.

Current cases

There have been 260 cases of BTV-3 in the 2024-25 vector season in Great Britain, and there is no treatment for the disease.