The Welsh Assembly Government has agreed to go out to tender for a further supply of 5 million doses of Bluetongue vaccine for Wales, Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones confirmed. This is in addition to the 2.5 million doses already secured.
Vaccination can only be authorised once an area is declared a Protection Zone, as required under EU legislation. It is expected that Wales will be declared a Protection Zone early in the summer, at which point the vaccine will be made available for purchase by livestock keepers through their veterinary surgeon.
Elin Jones said:
Farmers in Wales have begun to respond to our call to register interest in Bluetongue vaccine with their vets. We are tendering for a further 5 million doses in order to meet the anticipated demand.
I am in close contact with the industry on the issue of Bluetongue vaccination to ensure livestock in Wales is protected as far as possible from the serious consequences of this disease.
Under current EU regulations, we have to wait for the English Protection Zone to reach the Welsh border before a Protection Zone can be declared in Wales. As soon as that happens, I will declare a Protection Zone for vaccination, covering part or the whole of Wales, taking account of veterinary advice. I am seeking DEFRA's co-operation in ensuring that the Protection Zone reaches Wales as early as possible in the summer to allow vaccination to begin in Wales.
I would like to remind each farmer to take full advantage of the opportunities to protect their own animals and, if they have not already done so, to register interest with their vet now so that they will be able to purchase vaccine when it becomes available.
