From 12 March, the European Commission will allow poultry to be vaccinated against bird flu under certain conditions. But that does not mean that farmers will be able to vaccinate their chickens on a large scale from that day forward: “We are short of manpower.”
Due to the worldwide outbreak of avian flu, more than 46 million animals were killed (preventatively) in 26 countries last year. That vaccination is now allowed is therefore seen as an important milestone, although a suitable vaccination has yet to be found. And after that we also face the next challenge: under which rules will the shot be allowed?
Vaccine testing
There is not yet a registered vaccine that can be used in the Netherlands. Various tests are underway in Wageningen, the results of which are expected next month. Poultry health care professor Sjaak de Wit is confident that at least one of the vaccines can be used: “We now really have more modern vaccines than during the major outbreak in 2003.”
According to him, the date of March 12 is too early. But he has no doubts that vaccines that protect poultry will soon be available. “We have also seen with covid that a process that usually takes years can be done a lot faster when the pressure is high.”
Not enough vets
Finding an effective vaccine is not the most important hurdle, says De Wit. Those are the rules once the intentions are there. “The decision of the European Commission contains rules that require strict control. After vaccination, samples must be taken every week and a vet must visit every 4 weeks.”
And therein lies the problem, because there are not enough vets to do that. “In France they have calculated what this would mean in practice,” says the professor. “Veterinarians would have to make more than 160,000 visits there in 1 year.” In the Netherlands we have less poultry than in France, “but here too it is completely impracticable”.
‘Controls overshoot the target’
It must and can therefore be done differently, says De Wit. “Of course there must be thorough checks, but they don’t have to be so strict and labour-intensive.” He states that the European Commission has not yet translated its vaccination plans into practice.
While such a translation is badly needed, the professor emphasizes. “Vaccination is the solution to bird flu. We cannot do without it. But with this plan, with these checks, we create an extra problem. It defeats its purpose.”
