Badger vaccination advice line launched

04 July 2023

A photo of a badger

Farmers and vets who are interested in knowing more about badger vaccination as a tool to help combat bovine TB can now have their questions answered through a new telephone service.

With the badger vaccination season now underway, anyone looking to vaccinate badgers this year can speak directly to someone with experience of delivering farmer-led badger vaccination through the new advice line.

The advice line is free to call on 0800 1070717.

One-to-one advice

Dr Lindsay Heasman from Hurst Animal Health, the VESBA (Vaccinating East Sussex Badgers) project manager, said: “Having spoken to many vets and farmers across the country, it’s clear that people like to talk on a one-to-one basis about how badger vaccination could work on their farm or for their practice. Often, people have questions about the practicalities of fitting in a vaccination round the busy farming calendar, and the new advice line is there to do just that.”

"It’s clear that people like to talk on a one-to-one basis about how badger vaccination could work on their farm."

Dr Lindsay Heasman, Hurst Animal Health

This service is being delivered by the team responsible for the VESBA project – a five-year, Defra-funded project which is successfully delivering badger vaccination across 250km2 in East Sussex.

Solutions to challenges

Nick Pile, the VESBA Project Director from Cliffe Veterinary Group, said: “The VESBA project is now entering its third year, and although we have encountered some challenges to delivery, we have found solutions along the way.

“We are keen to share this information and knowledge with anyone that is considering badger vaccination. Whilst the information about badger vaccination on the TB Hub is really useful, we know that farmers and vets really value the opportunity to have questions answered on a one-to-one basis.”

Advice line

The advice line is free to call on 0800 1070717. If the call can’t be taken immediately, the VESBA team aim to call back the following working day.


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