Defra Bluetongue Tender Awarded to Merial

UK - Following the award of the second Defra tender, Merial Animal Health is now preparing to deliver bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV8) vaccine to England and Wales, starting in July.

18 June 2008

1 minute read

Europe

Said Merial Head of Production Animal Business, Graham Davenport:

“We are delighted to have received this order from Defra and we will be working hard to ensure there is continuity of supply for farmers in England and Wales. All Merial’s bluetongue vaccines, world-wide, start their life at our Pirbright Vaccines Centre in Surrey before being finished in Lyon, France.

So it is particularly pleasing for us to have gained business here in the UK. This adds to previous bluetongue vaccine orders, beginning back in 2004, from Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. “We will start to deliver vaccine to England and Wales in July; in the meantime we will be putting in place the necessary veterinary technical support.”

Defra announced on 11 June that it is placing an order with Merial to deliver 13 million doses of BTV8 vaccine, 8 million for use in England and 5 million for use in Wales. The Merial vaccine, BTVPUR AlSap® 8, will be available in 100ml bottles and is expected to require one 1ml dose in sheep and two 1ml doses in cattle, given four weeks apart.