Vaccination

Against LPAI
Against HPAI
In Zoos
Verona scientific conference on vaccination: a tool for the control of avian influenza

Council Directive 2005/94/EC on the control of Avian Influenza allows emergency vaccination as a short term measure to respond to a disease outbreak. As a new tool the revised Directive now also gives the possibility to use preventive vaccination. This long term measure can be used by Member States that based on a risk assessment identify certain areas, poultry categories or their husbandry systems (e.g. free range) as being at a particular risk for virus introduction. Vaccinated birds may still become infected by the virus. They must therefore be monitored closely to detect virus infection. Vaccination plans must follow a DIVA strategy which allows Differentiating between Infected and Vaccinated Animals. The DIVA strategy is important to keep the virus from spreading from vaccinated birds to other animals. It also ensures safe trade of products from vaccinated birds. Vaccination plans must be formally approved by a Decision.

Vaccination against Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza (LPAI)

Italy

In 2000 Italy developed a vaccination strategy to limit the spread of low pathogenic avian influenza in certain areas of Northern Italy. This strategy makes use of a heterologous vaccine using a vaccine strain that is different from the circulating field strain. In combination with clinical and laboratory surveillance this allows discrimination between vaccinated and infected birds according to the DIVA principle. Such a vaccination plan was first adopted in Italy by Decision 2000/721/EC. The amendment by Decision 2001/847/EC allowed for the first time the marketing of meat and eggs from vaccinated poultry based on surveillance of vaccinated and unvaccinated poultry flocks in the vaccination area. By Decision 2004/666/EC the use of a bivalent vaccine against both - H5 and H7 avian influenza subtypes - was introduced. Further vaccination plans were implemented in Italy by Decision 2005/926/EC and last as an emergency vaccination plan against LPAI from autumn 2007 until end of March 2008 by Decision 2007/638/EC

Portugal

In autumn 2007 Portugal reported several LPAI outbreaks of the H5 subtype chiefly in poultry intended for restocking supplies of game. Decision 2008/285/EC approved an emergency vaccination plan against LPAI of poultry intended for restocking supplies of game in Portugal. After eradication of the LPAI outbreak in Portugal preventive vaccination is to be continued until end of July 2011 in one holding of valuable breeding mallard ducks under Decision 2010/189/EU .

back to top

Vaccination against High Pathogenic Avian Influenza

In February 2006, the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health backed Commission proposals to allow France and the Netherlands to carry out targeted preventive vaccination of poultry, as a precautionary measure against highly pathogenic avian influenza of the H5N1 subtype. The vaccination plans were authorised only for specific poultry categories subject to rigorous surveillance and control requirements.

• Netherlands
  
  Decision 2006/147/EC as last amended by Decision 2006/528/EC approved the Dutch plan for preventive vaccination of backyard poultry and organic/ free-range laying hens which could not be effectively kept indoors on a voluntary basis throughout the whole country. Preventive vaccination continues to be applied until end of July 2009 under Decision 2007/590/EC .

• France
  
  Decision 2006/148/EC as last amended by Decision 2006/438/EC approved the French plan for the preventive vaccination of ducks and geese which can not easily be put indoors and separated from wild birds in the departments of Landes, Loire-Atlantique and Vendée.
  
  A Commission press release summarises the approval of plans in Fr and NL (IP/06/210).

• Germany
  
  Germany has carried out vaccination in three commercial poultry holdings (ducks, geese, laying hens) in North Rhine Westphalia within the frame of a research orientated field study from October 2006 until October 2008 under the provisions of Decision 2006/705/EC .
  
  A Commission press release summarises the approval of the German plan (IP/06/1153).

back to top

Vaccination in zoos

Vaccination of susceptible birds kept in zoos is an appropriate additional preventative measure, under certain circumstances. Detailed rules concerning preventive vaccination of birds kept in zoos that the Member States should follow are laid down in Commission Decision 2007/598/EC (repealed by Decision 2005/474/EC.

Approved preventive vaccination plans for birds kept in zoos and approved bodies, institutes and centres in Member States:

Austria (46 KB)
Belgium (550 KB)
Czech Republic (193 KB)
Germany (2430 KB)
Denmark (204 KB)
Estonia (183 KB)
Spain (165 KB)
France (350 KB)
Hungary (145 KB)
Ireland (154 KB)
Italy (230 KB)
Lithuania (269 KB)
Latvia (212 KB)
The Netherlands (1854 KB)
Portugal (913 KB)
Sweden (272 KB)
United Kingdom (409 KB)

back to top

Verona scientific conference on vaccination: a tool for the control of avian influenza

From 20-22 March 2007 the OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health), FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) and IZSVe (Istituto Zooprofillatico Sperimentale delle Venezie, OIE reference laboratory for Avian influenza) held a scientific conference in Verona/Italy on: Vaccination: a tool for the control of avian influenza.
The conference was co-organised and supported by the EC. For further information: http://www.avianfluvaccine2007.org/.

On the OIE website the speakers’ presentations and the recommendations of the conference can be accessed.

back to top

back to top