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Campaign to remind farmers of the importance of vaccines
The uptake of vaccines in the sheep and cattle sectors is generally low.

#VaccinesWork to highlight variations in vaccine penetration

The Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture (RUMA) has launched a new campaign to remind prescribers and farmers of the importance of vaccines in protecting all farm animal sectors.

The campaign, #VaccinesWork, aims to highlight variations in vaccine penetration between farm and animal sectors. In particular, it will show where there may be scope for greater uptake and the gains from storing, handling and administering vaccines correctly.

RUMA says the poultry and fish sectors have had success in using vaccines for many years as part of comprehensive and integrated health programmes, and that it hopes other sectors will take inspiration from this.

“Vaccination is not a ‘silver bullet’ for disease control, but it can be an important part of an infection prevention and control of disease planning process, which all farms should have in place in consultation with their vet,” explains RUMA’s secretary general Chris Lloyd.

“In the sheep and cattle sectors, uptake of vaccines is generally low, so the campaign will ask farmers and prescribers to consider whether there is scope to increase levels of vaccination to improve herd or flock immunity – and potentially profitability – on their farms.
 
“Vaccination is already much higher in pigs, but improving how vaccines are stored, handled and administered could boost results significantly.”

RUMA said that in order to ensure prescribed vaccines work effectively, it is essential that the manufacturer and prescriber’s instructions on storage, dose rate and dose interval are followed accurately.

It adds that a disease challenge may present itself for which there is no suitable licensed vaccine. In consultation with the farm vet, laboratories can sometimes develop autogenous vaccines specific to the pathogen causing the problem on the farm.

In some circumstances, the vet may also be able to import a suitable vaccine from either another EU country or from outside of the EU, said RUMA. For more information about #VaccinesWork, please click here

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.