Currently the proposal awaits the necessary political endorsement by the Danish Government and the subsequent public hearing of the Danish Order paving the way for the vaccinations to take place.
The political review process is expected to be completed by the end of October 2026.
If the vaccination strategy is approved, vaccination is expected to begin no earlier than November 2026.
More information about the vaccination strategy is provided below. Additional information and updates will be made available on this website as the decision-making process progresses.
During the past seasons multiple outbreaks of high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) of the serotype H5N1 have affected the Danish poultry production despite very intensive infection control and biosecurity measures taken by the establishments.
The slaughter turkey production is overrepresented in the statistics on Danish outbreaks compared to the relative size of the production. The DVFA therefore wish to add preventive vaccination as an additional safeguard alongside the biosecurity measures the turkey industry already has implemented in an effort to minimize the risk of outbreaks as much as possible. Thereby also improving animal welfare and reducing viral circulation at the source, lowering infection pressure on wildlife, livestock, and ultimately human health.
This should also result in a more stable turkey production and a reduction in outbreak management and compensation costs.
Poultry segment included
The strategy and the vaccination will only include establishments in Denmark holding more than 2,000 turkeys reared for slaughtering. In Denmark 14 establishments matches this criterion and constitutes a well-defined and homogeneous production segment. Vaccination against HPAI will still be prohibited in the rest of the Danish poultry production.
Vaccines to be used
HPAI-vaccines authorised by European Medicines Agency (EMA) and commercially available for use in turkeys will be used.
More information concerning the vaccines chosen and the vaccination scheme will follow.
Legal basis and specific requirements concerning the vaccination strategy
The legal basis and the requirements to be fulfilled are given in the EU-regulations, in particular Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 (as amended).
The specific requirements are stated in Annex XIII, part 5 of the regulation. The requirements include among other things that establishments must obtain authorisation from the DVFA before commencing vaccination. Authorisation conditions will include that the establishment designate an authorised veterinarian responsible for the vaccination program and detailed requirements for disease surveillance, vaccination protocols, record-keeping, reporting, and prior notification to the DVFA of vaccination activities enabling further supervision by the DVFA.
The mandatory surveillance framework is described in the regulation and comprises active and passive surveillance. Active surveillance will be carried out by the DVFA every 30 days and consist of clinical inspection, a review of the surveillance documentation kept in the establishment, and collection of samples from recently deceased turkeys for testing for HPAI virus genome via PCR. The passive surveillance based on the existing EU and national notification requirements remain fully applicable including mandatory reporting of any suspicion of avian influenza to the DVFA and immediate investigation of increased mortality, reduced production parameters, or other indicators consistent with HPAI.
Movement of vaccinated turkeys
Establishments holding vaccinated turkeys will be placed under movement restrictions. Birds may only be moved between establishments and for slaughter following inspection and approval by the DVFA. Movement between establishment is further restricted as vaccinated and unvaccinated birds may not be held at the same establishment.
Movement of turkeys will take place between Denmark and Germany. Denmark receives the day-old turkey chicks unvaccinated from Germany and vaccination is intended to take place upon arrival at the Danish establishments. The turkeys are reared in Denmark and will be transported directly for slaughter in Germany.