Mitsotakis rules out mass vaccination for goat and sheep pox in Greece
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday rejected mass vaccination as a strategy to contain the ongoing goat and sheep pox outbreak, citing risks of further spreading the disease and the inability to distinguish vaccinated from infected animals.
Instead, the government plans to strengthen veterinary services, deploying military and private veterinarians, temporary staff, and new laboratories, while maintaining strict biosecurity measures. Targeted vaccination may be considered later if deemed safe.
Mitsotakis’ remarks follow European Commission Health Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s recommendation to use vaccines to control the outbreak. The prime minister emphasized that Greece will follow its own rules, including culling infected animals, to protect livestock and the broader agricultural sector.
