The manufacturer of the bluetongue vaccine Bultavo 3, Boehringer Ingelheim, has confirmed that is has sold almost four million doses of the vaccine in the Republic of Ireland as of May 2026.

The vaccine, administered as an initial shot followed by a booster, suggests that two million animals have been vaccinated against the virus.

“We believe that the majority of the vaccine has gone into cattle, primarily dairy cattle, ahead of the breeding season, due to vet and farmer concerns around fertility and milk yield,” a spokesperson for the company told the Irish Farmers Journal.

“We continue to speak to vets, farmers and policy makers to understand vaccine requirements going forwards.

“It is important that farmers and vets continue to consider vaccination as part of their disease control strategy. The risk remains uncertain, but vaccination is the only way to protect animals against BTV, and with the high-risk season still ahead of us, it’s still not too late to vaccinate cattle and sheep,” the spokesperson said.