ICMSA want vaccine availability “roadblock” addressed

In keeping with the strong push towards preventative medicine via the use of vaccines and the need to reduce dependence on antibiotics, farmers have embraced change and increased the use of vaccines but over the last year and the last six months particularly.

But according to ICMSA deputy president, Eamon Carroll, that positive trend has hit a major roadblock that is the scarcity or even non-availability of the vaccines.

Mr Carroll said that ICMSA members around the country have been highlighting problems in getting vaccines at particular times and significant delays in availability from IBR to Salmonella to Lepto. He noted that all these vaccines can play a hugely important role in preventative medicine, improving animal health and also contributing to reducing the threat of AMR.

“There is growing frustration amongst farmers that vaccination programmes on farms are being undermined by the non-availability of vaccines and there is an onus on particularly the regulators - but also the pharmaceutical companies - to ensure that sufficient vaccines are available when required. AMR is a significant issue that farmers are proactively addressing only to be let down, again, by the system.

“ICMSA has been in contact with the Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine on this matter and have asked to investigate the delays and put in place a plan to ensure that vaccine availability will not be an issue going forward.”