Lay Vaccination for FMD DEFRA Consultation

Originally from: mona parr
                        
Amendments to legislation to allow lay vaccination of livestock in the event of a future outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease

Responses are invited on a proposal to make amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons Act of 1966 and the Medicines Act of 1968 to permit lay vaccination of livestock in the event of and future outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The closing date for responses is 19 March 2004

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/layvaccination/index.htm
                        

Originally from: Farmtalking
                        
Hi Mona!

Thanks for drawing attention to this DEFRA doc.

Farmers have been legally vaccinating and injecting their livestock with various drugs under the direction of their vets for years.

Vaccinating to protect against FMD should have been no different and would have saved the country billions.

Instead of instigating the massive illegal slaughter of millions of animals two years ago they could have invested a paltry sum by comparison, to manufacture, instruct and supply the vaccine to farmers.

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I'm none too sure the proposed amendments are even necessary. However, if they are, it's about time!

If they're not, they're just another attempt by this Government to paper over the flaws and try to conceal the untold damage their complete incompetance has created.

It is tragic that "The basic disease control policy for FMD remains the slaughter of all susceptible animals on premises infected with FMD and known "dangerous contacts".

There can be no doubt that emergency vaccination should be the first response to any future outbreak and that it should be administered by farmers on their own farms and not by lay persons wandering from farm to farm and spreading disease as they go!

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/layvaccination/letter.htm

AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATION TO ALLOW LAY VACCINATION OF LIVESTOCK IN THE EVENT OF A FUTURE OUTBREAK OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE: VETERINARY SURGEONS ACT 1966
MEDICINES ACT 1968

1. I am writing to invite your comments on a proposal to introduce legislation to provide for the distribution of FMD vaccine in the event that emergency vaccination forms part of the government's response to a future outbreak of foot and mouth disease, and for its administration by lay vaccinators. This proposal forms part of contingency plans for future outbreaks of foot and mouth disease.

2. The basic disease control policy for FMD remains the slaughter of all susceptible animals on premises infected with FMD and known "dangerous contacts". However, the new EU FMD Directive also gives greater prominence to the potential use of emergency vaccination in the event of an outbreak as an adjunct to this basic slaughter policy. It places a duty on Member States "to prepare all arrangements necessary for emergency vaccination" as soon as the first case of FMD is confirmed. The Government accepts that emergency vaccination should be considered as a disease control option from the start of any outbreak of FMD, on the basis of vaccinate to live, wherever possible. This is in line with the recommendations of the main FMD Inquiries.

3. The intention is to make the legislative amendments as soon as possible, which will allow vaccine to be supplied to and administered by lay vaccinators without delay in the event of the use of emergency vaccination in a future outbreak. This approach will relieve pressure on veterinary surgeons during any future outbreak of foot and mouth disease, when it is likely they will be fully occupied on other essential disease control duties.

4. The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 provides that only veterinary surgeons registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) are permitted to practise veterinary surgery in the UK, although there are exemptions for minor procedures. The Medicines Act 1968 restricts the supply of veterinary medicines to supply by prescription only from a pharmacy, or by a vet charged with care of the animals being vaccinated. It also limits the administration of the vaccine to vets, or persons acting under their direction.

5. After discussion with the RCVS we are proposing to introduce legislation under Section 19 (4) (e) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. This will allow non-veterinarians to administer foot and mouth disease vaccine, provided they are 18 years of age or over, they are acting under the direction of a veterinary surgeon and they are deemed competent by the directing veterinary surgeon. The RCVS defines "direction" as meaning the veterinary surgeon instructs the vaccinator as to the treatment to be administered but is not necessarily present.

6. We are also proposing to make an equivalent Order under the Medicines Act 1968 to provide appropriate exemptions from the general restrictions of the Act for the supply of FMD vaccine to and by Defra appointed officers, contractors, volunteers and lay vaccinators in the event of a future outbreak

7. These Orders will be made under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Medicines Act 1968 which is made jointly by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and in the case of the Medicines Act by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. The new Orders will apply in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.