GOVERNMENT MUST DO MORE TO ENCOURAGE TAKE UP OF BLUETONGUE VACCINE - WILLIAMS

3.23.47pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 31st Mar 2009

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire and Liberal Democrat Food and Rural Affairs Spokesperson, has called on the Government to do more to encourage take up of vaccines for Bluetongue in England.

A response from Jane Kennedy MP, Minister at the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs, to a parliamentary question tabled by Roger Williams MP, showed that vaccination rates in England ranged from more than 95% to less than 30%.

Mr Williams said:

"While it is encouraging that such a large number of farmers have vaccinated their flocks in the areas most at risk of future outbreaks, it is essential that there is a higher level of uptake in the rest of England

"It is generally agreed that at least 80% of flocks need to be vaccinated in order to prevent another large scale outbreak. While this target appears to have been met in the South of England, the figures for the other regions are considerably lower and the national average was just 60%.

"With climate change bringing increased temperatures to the UK it is possible that future years will see the disease spread further north and west. The rates of vaccination in these areas are considerably below the 80% target and it is essential that more flocks are vaccinated to prevent another widespread outbreak of this disease.

"The Government should do all it can to ensure as many livestock farmers as possible vaccinate their flocks."