Overview
- A tightly supervised field study began on 5 March in England using UK/EU‑authorised vaccines on a small cohort of turkeys after approval from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
- The 24‑week trial will assess immune response and real‑world effectiveness and test surveillance approaches designed to protect trade.
- Wider poultry vaccination is not permitted in the UK at present, with results set to inform the HPAI vaccination taskforce's final recommendations.
- Officials cite unprecedented H5N1 impacts since 2020, with annual costs to government and industry estimated at up to £174 million.
- Turkeys were selected due to high susceptibility and mortality, and comparable efforts are under way in Italy and the Netherlands, while France vaccinates farm ducks.