There will be no vaccine available against the bluetongue virus in the short term. Scientists estimate that the African Blu-Vax vaccine has only very limited effectiveness. In addition, there are many uncertainties about safety. This was stated by outgoing Agriculture Minister Piet Adema in a letter to the House of Representatives on Thursday.
No vaccine has been approved for bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV3) in the Netherlands and the EU. The vaccines authorized in the Netherlands are for serotypes 1, 4 and 8. However, these vaccines have no effect against serotype 3. A vaccine is available for serotype 3 in South Africa, but it has only provisional approval in that country.
Adema has asked the medicines assessment agency, part of the Medicines Evaluation Board (aCBG)/Bureau Veterinary Medicines (BD), to urgently assess the vaccine. In Europe, the vaccine must meet strict safety and quality requirements for both humans and animals, as stated in the letter to Parliament.
Doubts about effectiveness
The assessment process takes time. In exceptional cases, as is currently the case, the minister may grant temporary permission for the use of an unapproved vaccine.
The MEB/BD advises against the use of the South African Blu-Vax bluetongue vaccine due to safety risks, such as missing information, the risk of the presence of other viruses and non-inactivated bluetongue virus, lack of accreditation for good production methods, and doubts about its effectiveness against BTV serotype-3 in the Netherlands. This advice is shared by the Committee for the Authorization of Veterinary Medicines (Ctd).
Experts expect that vaccination prior to this winter, even if there were an available vaccine, would not be very effective. This has to do with the time needed to build up immunity after vaccination.
Limburg and Groningen still available
There are currently more than 1,000 companies with bluetongue infections in the Netherlands. Of these, 700 are sheep farms and 300 are cattle farms. In addition, four infections have been found on goat farms and seven in alpacas. Only the provinces of Limburg and Groningen are currently free of bluetongue infections.
Experts indicate that the spread of the bluetongue virus across the Netherlands appears to follow the expected pattern. BTV3 also appears to cause more disease symptoms than BTV8 in the years 2006-2008. It is expected that BTV3 will hibernate.
Midges less active
Part of the ruminant population now has protection against BTV3 due to previous infections. However, a large part of the ruminant population does not yet have protection against BTV3. Due to decreasing temperatures, midges will become less active, which will reduce the number of new infections.
It appears that vaccination will contribute little to this decline at this time. Most good quality inactivated vaccines require two doses, several weeks apart, and adequate protection is not expected until 7-8 weeks after the first vaccination.
2023-10-13 08:25:09
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