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Government rolls out new badger vaccination licence
A total of 1,575 badgers aross England were vaccinated in 2021.
Simplified licence will streamline the administration process. 

The government has announced a new and simplified licence for vaccinating badgers under plans to strengthen efforts to eradicate Bovine TB in England by 2038.

The new licence will permit those trained to carry out badger vaccinations to register as an 'authorised person', streamlining the administration process and enabling more badgers to be vaccinated. 

A total of 1,575 badgers across England were vaccinated in 2021, and the hope is this new licence will encourage more farmers, landowners and vaccination groups to play a part in vaccination projects.

Biosecurity minister Lord Benyon explained: “Bovine TB is one of the most difficult and intractable animal health challenges that the UK faces today, causing considerable trauma for farmers and costing taxpayers over £100 million every year.

“The widespread vaccination of badgers is a key cornerstone of our strategy to eradicate TB by 2038, with our new and simplified licence allowing more farmers and vaccination groups to join the fight against this insidious disease.”

Natural England will continue to conduct inspections to ensure that vaccination projects adhere to the licence terms and best practice guidance. 

Those interested in registering for the licence can do so from today (26 May) via gov.uk. Applicants must subit evidence of their badger vaccination training and can expect a decision within 48 hours. 

Successful applicants will be able to start vaccinating badgers immediately with the landowner's permission and report their activity in a new smartphone app, developed by the Worldwide Veterinary Service.

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.