The global shortage of the BCG vaccine is not likely to affect the TB badger vaccination programme in Ireland, according to the Department of Agriculture.

Arising from a lack of supply of BCG vaccines through the HSE framework agreement, the Department procured its own supply of BCG vaccine from a Canadian company in 2016, a Department of Agriculture spokesperson said.

“[The Department] has sufficient stocks in place to support the delivery of the expanded badger vaccination projects in 2018.

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“The Department will continue to monitor its stocks of BCG vaccine and procure more supplies when required either through the HSE framework or directly with an alternative supplier,” the spokesperson said.

The Department has started rolling out the badger vaccination programme in Ireland, at an estimated cost of just over €4.3m in 2018.

The unit cost of BCG is estimated to cost €30 per vial and each vial is sufficient to vaccinate, on average, two badgers.

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