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Webinar to give advice on sheep vaccine shortages
The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 4 October.
Experts will talk about supply issues and mitigating risks.

The National Sheep Association has announced that October’s Breakfast Club webinar will look at the shortages of sheep vaccines.

Jonathon Statham, chair of the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England Commitee, will speak about the reasons for supply chain issues and how the problems might be resolved. He will also look at the long-term effects the current shortage might have.

He will be joined by Dr Joe Henry, a specialist beef and sheep veterinary surgeon, who will talk about how to mitigate the long-term impact of the vaccine shortage and what farmers can do if they can’t access vaccines.

In the past year, there have been supply issues with vaccines that prevent clostridial diseases, Pasteurellosis, abortion, lameness and orf.

In response, NSA has been in contact with manufacturing companies to try to resolve the shortages, as well as raising the issue with the Government at ministerial level. Recently, NSA wrote to Sir Robert Goodwill, chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ((EFRA) select committee, suggesting the committee should investigate the problem.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker said: “NSA has endeavoured to keep its members and other UK sheep farmers up to date on the ongoing difficulties felt in sourcing vaccines via its NSA publications and online engagement.

“This webinar will add to this providing a fuller update on the vaccine availability situation across the UK, giving a a chance to attendees to hear and ask questions over alternative strategies to reduce disease risk.”

The webinar, which will be free to join, takes place at 8.30am on Wednesday, 4 October. Those interested in attending can register online.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.