Bovine Tuberculosis: Vaccination
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to help develop an effective vaccine to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
Answered by Stephen Morgan
The CattleBCG vaccine, when coupled with the new Detect Infected amongst Vaccinated Animals (DIVA) skin test, represents a significant advancement in bovine TB control for cattle herds.
Field trials began in June 2021, with the final planned phase now underway and due to complete by 2027. Data gathered during laboratory and field trials has supported the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s application to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for Marketing Authorisation for the vaccine. The government is looking at all options to accelerate development and advance progress towards achieving Officially TB Free status for England by 2038.
The recently published recommended Bovine TB Control Strategy for England (https://tbhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-Recommended-Bovine-TB-Strategy.pdf) sets a clear ambition to deploy a cattle vaccine and a DIVA test by 2030. Government will now carefully consider the recommendations in the proposed strategy.
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