Why has Bluetongue Vaccination not been ordered?
22 February 2008
Jim Allister QC MEP has said ready access to vaccination must play a part in Northern Ireland’s strategy against bluetongue disease.
Mr Allister said,
“I have written to DARD, asking that vaccination should at least be considered as an option as part of Northern Ireland’s Bluetongue strategy. I understand that DARD has so far declined to order any vaccine for cattle and sheep, while DEFRA has ordered 22.5 million doses for England and Wales, to be available from May this year. Indeed, the Scottish Executive is coming under pressure from the Scottish industry to follow a similar route.”
“In January, Commissioner Kyprianou declared EU co-funding of 100% vaccine costs, and 50% of delivery costs for Member States conducting a vaccination programme, subject to certain caveats. Indeed, encouragement of mass vaccination against Bluetongue is in line with the focus of the new EU Animal Health Strategy on prevention being better than cure.”
“While I accept that the disease has not yet been found to be circulating here, access to an adequate supply of vaccine, as a contingency as we head into the warmer months must surely be an important consideration. Northern Ireland must avoid the worst case scenario of being at the back of the queue, should we find ourselves requiring vaccine a few months down the line.”
“Moreover, I have also tabled a Written Question to the Commission on the rules in place to safeguard against Bluetongue disease.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Full text of Written Question to the Commission:
Is the Commission satisfied with the effectiveness of existing EU rules relating to the control of Bluetongue between Member States? In particular is the pre-movement testing regime adequate and do current regulations prevent member states from imposing their own import restrictions, as deemed necessary by them and, if so, why?
Furthermore, is there an adequacy of vaccination available to deal with the current strains of the disease?
