Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Limited animal vaccine availability is a growing global issue due to production capacity
Recommendation
Vaccines play an important role in preventative health and disease control programmes in animals, reducing disease incidence, and maintaining health and welfare. They also reduce the need for antibiotics, helping 36 C&AG’s report, para 4.13 37 Q 51 38 C&AG’s report, para 4.13 39 Q 51 40 C&AG’s report, para 4.13 41 Q 54 42 Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Biosecurity at the border: Britain’s illegal meat crisis, HC 1296, 8 September 2025 15 combat antimicrobial resistance in animals. Limited availability of animal vaccines is a growing global issue which has become more acute in the last two years. Long-term issues include: production capacity at UK and EU sites; production capacity being diverted to human health; increased demand; and the challenging economics of vaccine manufacture.43 We received a number of written submissions which highlighted the importance of vaccines as part of improving resilience to animal diseases and raised concerns over supply shortages and the lack of a coordinated vaccine strategy.44
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the recommendation and VMD will publish a five-year multi-stakeholder action plan to improve vaccine supply by late 2026; Defra will work with VMD as the plan is developed. Defra has worked with manufacturers and industry to expedite emergency use of a Bluetongue 3 vaccine and supported the joint industry-government avian influenza vaccine taskforce. An application for approval of the Cattle BCG vaccine was made in September 2025.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: November 2026 8.2 The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s (VMD) Statement of Intent for UK veterinary vaccine availability outlines a strategic framework for cross-sector action. VMD is continuing cross-sector engagement to identify ways to improve supply and enable future innovation (involving government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, vet groups and broader animal health community). A five-year multi-stakeholder Action Plan will be published late 2026. Defra will work with VMD as the plan is developed. In parallel, mitigations for urgent availability issues are being identified and actioned. 8.3 Action has already been taken to secure animal vaccine supply to the UK. For example, in 2024, Defra worked with manufacturers, industry and the VMD to expedite emergency use of a Bluetongue 3 vaccine and subsequently to manage supply challenges. 8.4 Defra supported the joint industry-government avian influenza vaccine taskforce (the Taskforce) to look at the emerging use of HPAI vaccines. A report published by the Taskforce on 24 July 2025 provisionally recommends a future species-specific vaccination strategy, and a trial in turkeys. The Taskforce has committed to publish a subsequent report in Summer 2026. 8.5 In relation to vaccine development work for Bovine TB, an application for approval of the Cattle BCG vaccine was made in September 2025 and is being assessed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate according to published timelines. APHA continues work towards generation of data for the bovine TB cattle vaccine skin test which involves a commercial contract and tender exercise.