UK Government publishes framework to strengthen UK veterinary vaccine availability
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has today, Thursday 11 September, published a Statement of Intent on UK Veterinary Vaccine Availability. The Statement of Intent sets out a strategic framework for future cross-sector action to address the mismatch between supply and demand for existing veterinary vaccines and facilitate the pipeline of innovative products to address existing and emerging therapeutic gaps.
The availability of effective veterinary vaccines is not just a matter of animal welfare, it underpins public health, food security, and economic resilience. The critical importance of vaccine availability was recognised as a key finding in the recent National Audit Office report on resilience to animal diseases.
The current model of vaccine availability operates largely on a just-in-time basis for manufacture and supply. To safeguard against future risks, the framework calls for a transition towards a more resilient, just-in-case approach that prioritises preparedness to mitigate potential impacts on both animal and human health.
The framework proposes four integrated strategic themes and outlines the workstreams and activities that will deliver these themes, identified through consultation with stakeholders across the animal health sector. Publication will be followed by the development of a five-year multi-stakeholder UK action plan. This plan will be coordinated and championed by the VMD and will require collaborative work across all stakeholders to agree ownership, governance, deliverables, timelines and key performance indicators for activities.