A pertinent letter, re cattle vaccines.

Published in this week's Farmers Guardian 21/08/2020  (sorry - no link) is a letter from veterinary surgeon, David Denny, B.Vet.Med. We print it in full, below. With thanks.

Replying to an article describing the plans to begin (new) cattle vaccine trials, Mr. Denny comments:

“BTB cattle vaccine trials to start” (News Olivia Midgley 24 July 2020) is a ‘kite flying’ exercise, resulting it yet more of our money and time being squandered.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) which issued the license for BCG in badgers, stated “Any decisions as to whether the vaccine is suitable for use in any particular situation are outside the scope of the VMD’s statutory role in assessing the quality, safety and efficacy of veterinary products and are the responsibility of the end user”.

Thus vaccine efficacy didn't come into the licencing at all. Just that the BCG vaccine 'did no harm'. Mr. Denny doesn't mince his words, describing the VMD as " no more than a ‘rubber stamping’ quango."

He continues:

"Those who consider vaccination should even be an option, are on another planet living in ‘cloud cuckoo land’. No vaccine exists, or ever will, which will prevent bTB infection in any mammal two legged or four. BCG is no longer routinely used in humans. It was hypothetically claimed that it was between 7 and 70% efficient at preventing the primary lesions in the lungs from spreading to the brain. It is now used on those with impaired immunity- HIV and on steroids; those who are incapable of responding!"

And as a cattle veterinarian practising in a serious TB hotspot, Mr. Denny quite rightly, rounds on the latest politician to jump aboard this particular gravy train.

"Defra secretary George Eustice states “no none wants to continue to the cull of a protective species indefinitely”.

He should get his priorities right. No one wants to devastate herds, demoralising families by slaughtering cattle indefinitely."

Comparing the eradication of zoonotic Tuberculosis with one of the army's ‘principles of war’,  Mr Denny points out that there must be "selection and maintenance of aim. "

"And the aim must be eliminate the bTB infection from the badger populations."

He concludes:

"The CVO claimed “A multipronged approach is needed”. NO. Only a targeted cull of the infected badgers, together with a modicum of common sense, will be of significant effect. All the components for a cull exist, but there is a devious, corrupt and orchestrated opposition to one, by those- professors and cronies- together with the animal rights with their dubious agendas".

Ends..........................................................

In our two previous postings,  here   and    here we gave examples and references for previous trials of cattle vaccines. From the 1940s onwards, none were successful, and piggy backing a DIVA test of dubious provenance on to that, is a recipe for disaster. And trade bans.

 It has also been pointed out many times that the enormous challange faced by our cattle, from infected and infectious badgers, would be overwhelming. But we'll mention it again, anyway.