Brucellosis in Northern Ireland (1960s - Vaccination)

The history of Brucellosis in Northern Ireland during the 1960s in relation to vaccination.

For some years prior to the introduction of compulsory eradication the vaccination of adult animals with Strain 19 had been discouraged since it created difficulties in test interpretation and vaccination of adults was prohibited from 1 January 1963. The vaccination of calves between 4 and 8 months old caused few difficulties in interpretation but it too was prohibited from 29 March 1972 partly because infection had by then been reduced to a very low level and partly because the United Kingdom became a member of the European Community. The most advantageous status - Officially Brucellosis Free (OBF) Herds - could only apply to herds which contained animals which had not been vaccinated within the previous 3 years. The use of Strain 45/20 vaccine had never been permitted in Northern Ireland.