Vaccination is the administration of immunisation injections to animals in order to prevent, control spread of diseases. Vaccination campaigns involve administration of vaccine doses to a large population over a short period of time. The veterinary services departments or equivalent of respective countries normally gives free vaccinations to the farming community's animals for diseases which are of either economic significance to people's livelihoods or those that maybe of zoonotic importance (communicable to man from animals). These campaigns are usually fully funded by the government, NGOs to reduce disease outbreaks, prevent spread of an outbreak or improve national herd productivity, and are designed to reach as much livestock as possible. In most countries, free vaccinations are offer for the following diseases: Anthrax(-Cattle), Quarter evil or black quarter disease (Cattle), Contagious abortion (Cattle), Rabies (Dogs & Cats), Foot and Mouth Disease(Cattle)_ as per OIE designation in Disease Control Zones.
For the message to reach farmers, community radios and involvement of traditional leadership can be used to encourage farmers to participate in vaccination campaigns. This will help to gain trust and confidence from farmers for the campaign to be successful. Vaccination campaigns is a climate smart practice as it ensures a healthy population able to utilize feed efficiently with a reduced population discharge thus reduced GHG emission.
To effectively implement vaccination campaigns:
- Step 1: Networks that notify farmers about upcoming vaccination campaigns must be established to promote the significance of vaccinating animals across the country. This can be promoted through government bulletins and community radio, utilising extension networks, village level administration, and traditional leadership.
- Step 2: Vaccination parks for cattle can be set up by veterinary officials to restrain livestock movement that might increase disease spreading.
- Step 3: Goats and sheep can be vaccinated at their locations where officials will move from one village to another to reach more population.
- Step 4: Training of personnel is important to ensure that vaccination is carried out before seasonal outbreaks and prevent the spread of disease.
- Step 5: Commence campaigns one month prior to the season when outbreaks are most common or upon notice of a disease incidence.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2018. Urgent livestock vaccination campaign in South Sudan in jeopardy without more support. Rome, Italy.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2015. Emergency cattle vaccination campaign underway along Syria-Lebanon border. Rome, Italy.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2016. Foot and mouth disease vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring. Rome, Italy.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 2017. Linking community-based animal health services. Rome, Italy.
Benefits
- The objectives of vaccination campaigns are to reduce the number of animals that are affected by disease outbreaks and prevent treatable diseases from reducing national herd population which may affect farm income.
- Awareness must be established in order to gain farmers trust and involvement for the campaign to be successful.
Drawbacks
- No 100% guarantee of protection of animals/birds.
- Postpone vaccination campaigns if an outbreak is in progress.
- For ring vaccinations upon outbreaks, proper delineation of the perimeter is important.
