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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 26th May 2022
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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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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.