the vaccine dose may be reduced from May

The dose of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine will be reduced from 5 ml to 2 ml during the first stage of vaccination of cattle and buffaloes, which will be carried out from May in most Brazilian states. This change is provided for in the National Program for the Eradication and Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (PNEFA), which should result in the total withdrawal of vaccination in the country until 2021.

According to Diego Viali dos Santos, responsible for the Division of Foot and Mouth Disease Vesicular Diseases (Difa) of the Ministry of Agriculture, reduced doses are expected to cause fewer reactions in animals (nodules, swelling). In addition, with smaller bottles, vaccines will occupy less space, which will facilitate their transport and reduce refrigeration costs. "The production labs have enough stock of the new product to meet the demands of the farmers," he said.

Santos recalls that, at first, the vast majority of the country will immunize the entire herd, according to the vaccination schedule available .

Doses are applied only in Acre, Espírito Santo and Paraná only to young animals (less than 24 months old). Due to its special conditions, the state of Amapá does not vaccinate every year until the second half of the year.

The Ministry has prepared a manual for monitoring the trade in foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, updating the 2005 publication. The digital version, which contains lines Guidelines for the State Veterinary Services and Distributors, the quality required for the product should be available this week.