Bird flu vaccination trial recommended by task force
© Tim Scrivener A report from the avian influenza vaccination task force, which looked at how best to manage highly pathogenic avian influenza in the UK, has ruled out vaccination for poultry flocks for now.
The joint industry and cross-government task force said stringent biosecurity on farms remains the best way to prevent infection of poultry flocks, though it does recommend further actions, including an on-farm vaccination trial in turkeys, and exploring laboratory capacity for surveillance purposes.
The 2024-25 bird flu “season” recorded 2.3m captive bird deaths, with the last outbreak reported in a flock of pheasants near Wrexham a month ago (24 June).
See also: Concern as two separate bird flu outbreaks reported in Wales
The industry has welcomed the report, which outlines significant gaps in veterinary and laboratory capacity to meet international surveillance standards, essential for any vaccination programme, and warns that vaccination could also impact UK poultry exports.
Additional consideration, the report highlights, will need to be given to public health, food safety, insurance and biosecurity before vaccination can be rolled out.
Industry welcome
The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) described the report as an important step forward.
Mark Williams, chairman of the BEIC and co-chairman of the task force, said: “While world-class biosecurity remains our primary defence against bird flu, it’s clear that vaccination could be a useful additional tool in the armoury.
“Although significant challenges remain, including trade barriers, vaccine efficacy and surveillance requirements, the task force is making meaningful progress.”
NFU chief poultry adviser Aimee Mahony said she was pleased to see a trial of the on-farm vaccination of turkeys recommended.
She added: “Avian influenza continues to threaten the UK poultry sector, and we need to find effective ways to protect birds and farm businesses.”
British Poultry Council technical director Máire Burnett said the report highlighted the complexity of vaccination and the need to prioritise what delivers the greatest impact for animal health, business continuity, and trade resilience.
“Maintaining uninterrupted trade in both poultrymeat and high-value breeding stock is a top priority for the sector,” she added.
Cost of vaccination prohibitive
Under current assumptions, a vaccination programme would offer poor value for money overall if every flock were to be vaccinated, says the task force report.
An outbreak would have to be approximately 100% larger than the 2022-23 outbreak (1.6m bird deaths) and approximately 600% larger than the 2020-21 outbreak (24 farm outbreaks) for vaccination to be cost effective.
However, this is said to vary by species. Ducks and geese would see a higher return on investment, as would turkeys where, under more severe outbreak scenarios, the benefits are expected to outweigh the costs.
Final recommendations are expected in summer 2026.