Badger Vaccination Project 2019-2025

What were the main reasons for Oxfordshire Badger Group Vaccination Group ending its project?

First and foremost, we must reiterate that Bovine TB is a disease primarily affecting cattle.

 The vaccination project was never going to be the miracle cure that wipes out BTB in the UK.

 We set the project up to offer farmers in Oxfordshire an alternative to culling badgers.

 After seven years of badger vaccination, the project came to a natural end at the close of the 2025 season for several reasons.

 Firstly, the lack of DEFRA funding played a role. Though we were primarily self-funded through donations and grants, we had always hoped for Government support.

 Secondly, after six years of badger culling in Oxfordshire, most landowners had made clear decisions: some committed to culling, others to vaccinating, and some chose neither option. While we were still receiving vaccination requests, these were from land that was not contiguous to our existing vaccination area.

 Our fantastic volunteers had worked tirelessly for seven years, contributing thousands of hours to help badgers, most while juggling work. Many of our volunteers' situations have now changed.

The experience has given our members insight into badgers that we wouldn’t otherwise have gained. Our landowners have told us that they have learnt a lot about the badgers on their land. And most of all, we have thoroughly enjoyed the past seven years.

 Thank you to everyone who has supported and donated, allowing the project to run.

 Most of all, thank you to each and every volunteer for all their hard work and dedication.

 All of our equipment has been passed on to another badger vaccination project that is just getting started. We have been mentoring them, and wish them every success in the future 

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease of cattle which can be passed to a wide range of other animals including badgers. The science shows that very few badgers have bTB, even fewer are infectious and the likelihood of badgers transmitting bTB to cattle is extremely low. Despite this, we feel that vaccination is worthwhile to help stamp out bTB, help our farming communities and create a healthier badger population.

Vaccination involves humane trapping of adult badgers and cubs overnight, vaccination and release. Vaccinating a badger population over four years builds ‘herd immunity’. The treated badger social groups will develop a high level of resistance to the disease.

Badger BCG vaccination alone is not the solution to bTB, but it does have an immediate effect with no known negative impact. Vaccination is more effective than culling in controlling and minimising reservoirs of disease in badger populations. It is also very cost effective.

We gratefully  acknowledge the grant funding we have received to support our vaccination programme. A big shout out to: The Badger Trust  Clare Hammacott and Vaccination Fund; CAF American Donors and Mr Lumpy.