France Accelerates Vaccination Amid Ongoing Dermatose Protests
France is intensifying its vaccination campaign against contagious nodular dermatitis (CND) in the southwestern region. The government has set a target of vaccinating an additional 750,000 cattle. This announcement comes amid ongoing protests from farmers, who are blocking roads and railways in protest of the government’s response to the crisis.
Government’s Vaccination Strategy
On December 16, Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard outlined plans to vaccinate the entire cattle population rapidly to curb the disease’s spread. The previous estimate for additional vaccinations ranged from 600,000 to 1 million animals, which has now been refined.
Logistical Challenges in Vaccination
- A significant logistical effort is required to distribute vaccines across ten departments in the region.
- A stock of 500,000 vaccines is already being transported to the Southwest.
- A first batch of 400,000 doses from the Netherlands will soon arrive.
The government will enlist the support of state veterinarians, military veterinarians, and volunteer veterinary professionals to facilitate the vaccination process. Since the disease’s emergence in June in Savoie, France has identified a total of 113 CND outbreaks, with over 3,300 animals culled from a cattle population of approximately 16 million. Presently, there are no active outbreaks.
Farmers’ Protests and Demands
Farmers remain dissatisfied with the government’s measures. They demand nationwide vaccination availability and the cessation of total culling upon discovering a single case. The spokesperson for the agricultural union Confédération paysanne expressed frustrations over the government’s lack of response, prompting calls for increased protests and blockades.
As of recent reports, roughly 3,400 individuals participated in protests, which included over 75 disrupted routes. Major disruptions occurred on the A61 highway near Toulouse and on multiple routes in the Bordeaux area.
Future Protests and Meetings
Further protests are scheduled, including a gathering in Limoges where farmers plan to build a hay barrier at the local prefecture. Agriculture Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to meet with various agricultural unions to address their concerns.
The farmers are also voicing opposition to the potential signing of a trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries. The FNSEA, France’s largest agricultural union, has called for a demonstration in Brussels coinciding with a summit of European leaders scheduled to discuss the agreement.
In a recent statement, Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, urged President Emmanuel Macron to reject the trade deal rather than seek a delay, reinforcing the tension surrounding this agricultural crisis and the associated protests.
