Bluetongue vaccine tenders sought by Defra for next year

THE Government has taken a big step towards ensuring a bluetongue vaccine will be available next summer, although crucial issues about a vaccination strategy are still to be resolved.

Defra has now issued a tender for 10 and 20 million doses of a vaccine, having come under intense pressure from industry and MPs to put in an order before it was too late for next year.

A widespread vaccination programme of livestock is seen as the only way to prevent the disease becoming endemic in Britain over the next few years.