- How much does it cost? We will charge £30 per badger to cover the vaccine plus a little to cover petrol money for our volunteers, unless we get BACVI funding in which case it will be free.
- How long does it take? Approximately one week from the placing of the first cage trap to the vaccination of the last badger... this does vary a little according to the weather conditions and size of site.
- What time of year can it be done? Sett surveying can take place any time of year, although Spring is best. The vaccination process happens in the summer to late autumn, in order not to separate nursing mothers from their cubs, or leave badgers in cage traps in inclement weather.
- What time of day is vaccination done? Badgers are vaccinated at first light and released immediately after they are vaccinated.
- Can anyone vaccinate badgers? You have to be trained by the AHVLA and be licensed to vaccinate; anyone else interfering with badgers or their setts would be committing a criminal offence.
- How can you tell the difference from a cage trap used to kill badgers from one in use for a vaccination programme? A cage trap being used for badger vaccination will have official documents attached. Notices will also be placed on nearby footpaths to reassure the public.
- Does the vaccination process distress the badgers? Mostly badgers are asleep when they are vaccinated and are unaware of the injection on the whole. Most are far more concerned about having their guard hairs clipped for the stock spray to take a hold.
- I've heard badger vaccination isn't effective, is this true? The BCG vaccine used on badgers is more effective in badgers than it is in the human population. We have 'herd immunity' from a vaccine which is only 50% effective in humans, but in badgers this vaccine is 76% effective. There is no such thing as a 100% effective vaccine, that isn't how vaccines work.
- If I vaccinate my badgers would I still have to take part in a badger cull? Firstly, taking part in a badger cull is not compulsory, however, when a badger cull area is announced considerable pressure is exerted on the farmers and landowners in that area to take part. Vaccinating your badgers will give you a 'legitimate' excuse not to take part in a socially devising, inhumane and unscientific slaughter.
- My neighbours are not vaccinating their badgers so is there any point in my doing so? Yes, it will make all the difference to your badgers if you do, however it'll be more effective if your neighbours do too, so do tell them about TBVAC and how we can help. If you don't want to approach your neighbours about badger vaccination, send us their contact details and we will approach them instead.
- If I don't have any cattle is there any point to vaccinating my local badgers? Yes, vaccinating badgers will protect them from bovine TB and also protect you as a landowner from being pressurised into taking part in a badger cull.
- I have cattle; will vaccinating my badgers stop my cattle from catching bovine TB? It's unlikely to make a difference to TB in cattle, most transmission of TB in cattle being cow to cow. See the bTB prevention section of the 2013 badger cull review on the 'Blog Page.' But by vaccinating your badgers you can be certain they will not be put in the spotlight as the culprit for any outbreak of bTB in future.