The second stage of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease in Rio Grande do Sul and most Brazilian States begins this Tuesday, November 1st, and continues until the 30th. In the State, the second stage of vaccination is mandatory only for animals up to 24 months. For this stage, the Department of Agricultural Defense of the State Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation (SEAPI) will make around 900,000 doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines available free of charge. However, there are many precautions that must be taken when applying the vaccine.
The Union of Veterinary Doctors in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Simvet/RS), warns of some precautions that livestock farmers need to take when immunizing the herd, but which make a difference in carrying out the vaccination process. “The correct dose of the product is 5 ml and must be applied to the side of the animal's neck, using sterilized syringes and needles that must be changed after each batch of 10 animals. Furthermore, care must be taken when transporting and storing the vaccine, always trying to keep it at a temperature of 2 to 8 degrees so as not to lose its effectiveness”, recalls João Júnior, veterinarian and union delegate at Simvet/RS.
Another recurring discussion during this campaign against foot-and-mouth disease is the suspension of the vaccine. Although the change is being considered, there is still a lot of resistance from health experts. “We understand that withdrawing the vaccine requires great caution. Mainly because we still need to increase inspection at borders and barriers. To suspend vaccination, we would need to intensify health inspection”, says Júnior.
Although Rio Grande do Sul is currently recognized as a foot-and-mouth-free zone with vaccination, the geographical position also requires caution when it comes to suspending the vaccine. “As the State has a lot of border area (Uruguay, Argentina, Santa Catarina), it is difficult to contain the entry of illegal animals. Furthermore, it is important to remember that the virus can come in vehicles and shoes, making control even more difficult”, recalls the veterinarian from Simvet/RS.
Source: Agrolink
