One of the most common questions currently being raised by some farmers considering vaccinating their animals to protect them against the bluetongue virus (BTV) is around the availability of smaller
pack sizes.
For smaller herds and flocks the Department has confirmed that one vaccine pack may be prescribed and dispensed to more than one herd or flock, subject to veterinary oversight and maintenance of strict biosecurity.
At present the three vaccines licensed for use against BTV serotype-3 are marketed in packs ranging in size from 50ml to 252ml.
There is a smaller pack size of 10ml for Bultavo-3 licensed for use but this is not being marketed by the company in Ireland at present.
The dosage rate varies between animals and species and as such the number of animals treated from a given pack sizes also varies, as detailed in table 1.
The Department of Agriculture has stated on a number of occasions that the provision of specific pack sizes is a commercial decision for the manufacturers of the vaccines and one over which they have no influence.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has added that his Department have engaged with wholesalers and marketing authorisation holders to ensure continued supply of vaccine.
He recently stated in a parliamentary response to a question by Deputy Ryan O’Meara that he has authorised the import of more than four million doses of bluetongue vaccine under special licences to ensure adequate
supply.
He added “it is important to note that not all pack sizes are marketed even when a marketing authorisation is in place, as this is a commercial decision.
“My Department has communicated previously the issue of pack size to vaccine manufacturing companies.”
One of the most common questions currently being raised by some farmers considering vaccinating their animals to protect them against the bluetongue virus (BTV) is around the availability of smaller
pack sizes.
For smaller herds and flocks the Department has confirmed that one vaccine pack may be prescribed and dispensed to more than one herd or flock, subject to veterinary oversight and maintenance of strict biosecurity.
At present the three vaccines licensed for use against BTV serotype-3 are marketed in packs ranging in size from 50ml to 252ml.
There is a smaller pack size of 10ml for Bultavo-3 licensed for use but this is not being marketed by the company in Ireland at present.
The dosage rate varies between animals and species and as such the number of animals treated from a given pack sizes also varies, as detailed in table 1.
The Department of Agriculture has stated on a number of occasions that the provision of specific pack sizes is a commercial decision for the manufacturers of the vaccines and one over which they have no influence.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has added that his Department have engaged with wholesalers and marketing authorisation holders to ensure continued supply of vaccine.
He recently stated in a parliamentary response to a question by Deputy Ryan O’Meara that he has authorised the import of more than four million doses of bluetongue vaccine under special licences to ensure adequate
supply.
He added “it is important to note that not all pack sizes are marketed even when a marketing authorisation is in place, as this is a commercial decision.
“My Department has communicated previously the issue of pack size to vaccine manufacturing companies.”
SHARING OPTIONS