Written question asked by Martyn Jones (Labour) on Wednesday, 18 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 1 April 2009. It was answered by Jane Kennedy (Labour) on Wednesday, 1 April 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bluetongue Disease: Vaccination

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to encourage the use of the surplus stock of short-dated bluetongue vaccine in the next 12 months.

Answer: Vaccination in England and Wales is voluntary. In line with the Core Group of industry stakeholders, we believe that mass vaccination can be best—and most rapidly—achieved through a voluntary approach, supported by an industry-led communications campaign promoting the benefits of vaccination.DEFRA raises awareness of Bluetongue disease, and the benefits of vaccination against it, through the regularly updated Bluetongue web pages and through its ongoing communications to livestock keepers through livestock market road shows, Farming Link magazine and through the support it offers to the industry-led Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB).

Secondary information