Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of (a) vaccinations and (b) culling practices in tackling the spread of tuberculosis.

The new Government has started work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy, to continue to drive down disease rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament.

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. Previous studies demonstrated significant vaccine protection against experimental challenge with high dose of bovine TB[1]. As with other vaccines, a range of protection is expected. Some animals will be fully or only partially protected after vaccination whilst others will remain susceptible to the disease. Recent international studies investigating the full extent of BCG protection in natural conditions found a total efficacy of 89%[2].

Previous research by APHA scientists has also found that vaccination of badgers with BCG can reduce the risk of adult badgers testing positive for TB by 54% [3]. When enough badgers are vaccinated, the risk of infection in unvaccinated cubs can also be reduced by 79%¹. The Government will continue to increase vaccination delivery and analyse the effect of badger vaccination on the incidence of TB in cattle.

The existing badger control policy is on a steep downward trajectory and all remaining intensive and supplementary licences will end in January 2026. These culls are based on findings of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) carried out from 1997 to 2005. The latest analysis from APHA found a median 56% reduction in bovine TB incidence from 52 areas subject to the Badger Control Policy (which includes badger culling and enhanced cattle surveillance) [4].

[1] APHA, 2021, The potential role for BCG vaccination in global efforts to control and eradicate bovine tuberculosis. https://rj8a5f.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/APHA_technical_discussion_paper_WOAH_-BCG_vaccination_cattle.pdf

[2] Fromsa et al., 2024. BCG vaccination reduces bovine tuberculosis transmission, improving prospects for elimination. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adl3962

[3] Carter et al., 2012. BCG Vaccination Reduces Risk of Tuberculosis Infection in Vaccinated Badgers and Unvaccinated Badger Cubs. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0049833.

[4] Birch et al., 2024. Difference in differences analysis evaluates the effects of the badger control policy on bovine tuberculosis in England. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54062-4