MARCH 29, 2008: The first vaccine able to protect livestock from the BTV8 strain of thebluetongue virus is close to receiving official approval.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is soon set to announce that it has granted a provisional licence for Intervet’s BTV8 vaccine.The approval, when confirmed, will pave the way for the first deliveries of the vaccine to veterinary practices in May.A Joint campaign Against Bluetongue (JAB) has been launched by the industry and Defra to encourage uptake when the vaccine becomes available.Another pharmaceutical company, Fort Dodge, believes it will also have another five million doses available in May. The company has submitted its BTV8 vaccine dossier to the VMD.
