DAFM has communicated issue of BTV vaccine pack size to companies - minister
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has "communicated the issue of pack size" to vaccine manufacturing companies.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said his department is engaged with wholesalers and marketing authorisation holders to "ensure the continued supply of bluetongue vaccine to meet the high demand".
"I have authorised the import of more than four million doses of bluetongue vaccine under special import licences to ensure adequate supply," he said.
Bluetongue vaccines
The minister was responding to a question from Fianna Fáil TD Ryan O'Meara who asked about the progress made to secure bluetongue vaccines in smaller doses such as five, 10, or 20 doses as opposed to just 50 dose packs.
Minister Heydon said: "The provision of specific pack sizes is a commercial decision for the manufacturers.
"It is important to note that not all pack sizes are marketed even when a marketing authorisation is in place, as this is a commercial decision.
"My department has communicated previously the issue of pack size to vaccine manufacturing companies."
The minister said the department has also issued communications confirming that one vaccine pack can be prescribed and dispensed to more than one herd or flock "subject to veterinary oversight and maintenance of strict biosecurity".
It has been advised that vaccination should be completed in animals to protect them against bluetongue prior to the high-risk vector season from May onwards.
