Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of a vaccine for avian influenza being developed in the next 12 months.

It is unlikely that preventive vaccination will be authorised for widespread use in the next 12 months.

The authorised use of avian influenza vaccines is only permitted in licenced zoos in England. Currently authorised vaccines are unlikely to provide full protection for the current strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza circulating in the UK and continental Europe, or cross-protection to other strains which may circulate in the future.

At present, vaccination can help to reduce mortality, but it is likely that some vaccinated birds would still be capable of transmitting avian influenza if they became infected. This would increase the time taken to detect and eradicate the virus and many trading partners will not accept the use of vaccination. Avian influenza vaccination is therefore prohibited in poultry and other captive birds outside licensed zoos which have received authorisation to vaccinate by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

In addition, there are a number of practical, animal welfare and commercial disadvantages relating to the use of currently available vaccines which would present significant logistical and cost challenges to industry. These vaccines need to be delivered by individually injecting each bird and, since it is difficult to differentiate infected from vaccinated birds, this leads to issues exporting poultry and their products to other countries.

Defra continue to invest in avian influenza research, and we continue to monitor the current situation both in Europe and globally, as well as the effectiveness of any disease control measures taken, including vaccine development. Defra, working in conjunction with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), will continue to monitor the development and availability of vaccines for their utility in preventing and responding to avian influenza outbreaks as they are put forward for market authorisation by vaccine manufacturers. Any future decisions on disease control measures, including the use of vaccination, will be based upon the latest scientific, ornithological, and veterinary advice.