Inquiry to look into issues surrounding vaccination of badgers and cattle

A new inquiry is being launched by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, which will explore issues surrounding the vaccination of badgers and cattle as a method of controlling bovine TB.

The inquiry will examine areas such as the costs and effectiveness of the policy, the likely timescales and challenges in delivering vaccination programmes, and whether a vaccination programme could be delivered without having a negative effect on UK exports.

The inquiry will cover the current injectable badger vaccine programme and the prospects for a cattle TB vaccine, an oral badger TB vaccine and a ‘DIVA’ test for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals.

The committee of MPs is asking for evidence from all interested parties on TB vaccinations for badgers and cattle. This can be submitted in writing by Friday January 11, 2013.

Prior to the commencement of the pilot badgers culls next year, a report is expected to be published in the first half of 2013, which will include recommendations on how to proceed with a TB vaccination policy. Both sides of the bovine TB and badgers debate will hope that the report will bring clarity to a complex issue.

The divisive nature of this issue was highlighted during a recent House of Commons debate on the badger cull. The issue debated called on the Government to “stop the cull and implement the more sustainable and humane solution of both a vaccination programme for badgers and cattle, along with improved testing and biosecurity”.

Green MP Caroline Lucas claimed a cattle vaccine was “a lot closer to being developed” than supporters of badger culling were suggesting, “meaning there are alternatives to culling”.

However, Farming Minister David Heath said: “If anyone thinks that will be done in a week or so, they are sadly deluded. The vaccine will take years, not months.”