Sheep first

In late April, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN) approved a vaccine against the bluetongue virus for use, which came as good news. While it has, admittedly, since been found that sheep can still get sick, disease symptoms are milder and mortality among sick animals appears to be considerably lower than a year earlier. The profession put its weight behind the vaccination campaign en masse this spring.

Schapen staan achter een hekje te wachten op een vaccinatie tegen blauwtong.

Associate professor Gerrit Koop (Utrecht University, Veterinary Medicine) was in the group that drafted a national vaccination strategy. "The first question was: do we start with sheep or cows? Sheep often die of bluetongue, while cows don’t often die but may produce less milk. Agreement was quickly reached, including with the industry. Animal welfare was given priority over economic interests: Sheep first."

Studenten Diergeneeskunde in blauwe en groen overallen krijgen uitleg van een docent in blauwe overal met een vaccinatie in de handen over het vaccineren van schapen met blauwtong.
Lecturer in farm animals Frank van der Geest explains to veterinary students about vaccinating the sheep of educational farm the Tolakker against bluetongue.
Studenten Diergeneeskunde in overallen en laarzen drijven schapen een kant op om hen te kunnen vaccineren tegen blauwtong.

Preventing animal suffering

The next question was: How are we going to administer all those jabs? Professional associations KNMvD and the Collective of Practising Vets, with the cooperation of study association the 'Veefokkers', mounted a campaign. Both Master’s students and retired vets volunteered to help. On 6 May 2024, the first jabs were administered at teaching farm De Tolakker. Among them are also retired vet Koos Roorda and Master's student Annelies Lap. Lap is taking the equine major, but didn’t hesitate for a moment.

Gepensioneerd dierenarts Koos Roorda en masterstudent Annelies Lap vaccineren een schaap tegen blauwtong.
Retired vet Koos Roorda and Master's student Annelies Lap vaccinate a sheep against bluetongue.

"If I can do something to prevent animal suffering, it’s a no-brainer."

Annelies Lap, Master's student Veterinary Medicine

"The attitude of our students was fantastic", says Koop, proudly. "Clearly, we would have loved the vaccine to offer full protection. But unfortunately it doesn’t. It means further research and ongoing monitoring of the health situation of animals is crucial. And we must continue to vaccinate as many animals as possible. Ultimately, that’s the only way to contain this virus outbreak again."

Studenten Diergeneeskunde in blauwe overallen vaccineren een schaap tegen blauwtong.