FIFUR has obtained a conditional usage permit for mink vaccine from the Finnish Food Authority

The name of the vaccine preparation is FurcoVac and it is an experimental vaccine product similar to a prescription medicine that meets the Authority's requirements and does not have a marketing authorisation. The applicant and recipient of the usage permit is FIFUR, which prepares protective vaccination against pandemic SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses in the Finnish population of farmed mink.

In late autumn 2020, FIFUR started a coronavirus animal vaccine project with a group of researchers of infectious diseases at the University of Helsinki. The aim of the vaccine project is to prevent the emergence of viruses on Finnish farms and thus to contribute to the health of the population. The project also produces important research data on the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines and safeguards the health of animals and people caring for animals. The project has been financed by FIFUR.

In FIFUR, the corona preparedness and the vaccine project are led by Research Director Jussi Peura.
“The authorisation process and tests, including verifications, have taken time and the vaccine group has worked hard to achieve the production of batches of vaccine products that meet the regulatory requirements. Under the supervision of the Finnish Food Authority, we now have a conditional usage permit to prepare the vaccinations of minks safely in Finland ", says Jussi Peura.

Fur animals have their own vaccination programme and a coronavirus vaccine can be incorporated into it in the future if, for example, a marketing authorisation is applied for. The Medicines Act lays down specific provisions on the marketing of medicinal products. FIFUR stresses that a vaccine product that has been granted a conditional usage permit is similar in terms of its composition and manufacturing process to a prescription medicine but does not have a marketing authorisation which have stricter demands. A conditional usage permit, on the other hand, means that conditions have been set for carrying out certain monitoring, for example.

Prevention of corona continues on mink farms
Of fur animals minks and Finnraccoons, as well as cats and white-tailed deers have been found to be susceptible to the Covid-19 virus. Producers have complied with the protection guidelines drawn up together with the Finnish authorities since the spring of 2020. Animal testing under the decision of the European Commission on mink farms in the EU Member States and in Finland on Finnraccoon farms will continue until March 2022.

All the results have been negative, i.e. no Covid-19 animal infections have so far been detected on Finnish fur farms.
“We will continue the fight against corona and with the protective measures in cooperation with the authorities. The experimental corona vaccine for mink now licensed is a natural part of these protective measures. The time has been demanding for producers when they have had to isolate themselves and take care of the protective measures for employees. I want to thank the producers for the coronavirus protection”, says Jussi Peura.

Additional information:
Marja Tiura, Managing Director, FIFUR, +358 50 511 3060
Jussi Peura, Research Director, FIFUR, +358 400 637 255
Johanna Korpela, Veterinarian, FIFUR, +358 50 464 8834