Researchers have warned that the scientific evidence supporting vaccination of badgers to control tuberculosis is patchy and incomplete, and have called for intensified monitoring of vaccination programmes alongside a formal review of the accumulated data.
Calls for better monitoring
The researchers say there are important uncertainties about how vaccinating wild badger populations affects the incidence and spread of TB. They argue that routine, robust monitoring of vaccination efforts is required to determine vaccine uptake, duration of protection in wild animals and any downstream impacts on infection levels in other species.
Gaps in the evidence
According to the researchers, existing studies do not yet provide a comprehensive picture of the vaccination approach’s long-term effectiveness or its performance under different ecological and management conditions. They highlight a need for standardised metrics and consistent data collection so that results from different programmes can be compared and combined.
Implications for policy
The researchers recommend that policy-makers commission a systematic review of the evidence and strengthen surveillance around ongoing vaccination initiatives. They say clearer, higher-quality evidence is necessary to inform decisions about the role vaccination should play in broader disease-management strategies involving wildlife and livestock.