Non-parenteral vaccines for veterinary use in the United Kingdom

The first vaccine specifically formulated for non-parenteral administration was licensed for use in the United Kingdom over 15 years ago. Since that time there has been a dramatic increase in the use of this type of product, particularly within the last five years, and at present no fewer than 46 of the 220 currently licensed vaccines are recommended for administration by the non-parenteral route. The majority (42) of these products are for use in poultry with the remainder being for cattle, pigs and mink (1 vaccine each). All except two of the products are viral vaccines, the exceptions being a cattle helminth vaccine and the pig vaccine which is used for the control of intestinal E. coli infections in the young animal. Administration is principally by mouth, the vaccines being given either directly by the oral route to individual animals or incorporated in drinking water or feedstuffs for mass medication purposes but spray and eye-drop administration methods are also used.