In order to balance the demand for foot-and-mouth disease vaccines with the industry's expected production schedule, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), after discussion with the state veterinary services in Block IV of the Strategic Plan of the National Fever Surveillance Program Foot-and-mouth disease (PE-PNEFA), defined by reversing the vaccination strategy, in 2022, for ten units of the Federation.
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In this way, the 1st stage, to be carried out in May, will be intended for cattle and buffaloes up to 24 months, while the 2nd stage, in November, for the entire herd.
The reversal in the vaccination strategy will be valid for the states of Bahia, EspÃrito Santo (already using this strategy), Goiás, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, Sergipe, São Paulo, from Tocantins and the Federal District, which make up Block IV.
These states total approximately 61.3 million cattle and buffaloes from zero to 24 months of age that are expected to be immunized in May 2022.
“The state of EspÃrito Santo already uses this strategy, which is now being extended to the other ten states in block IV this yearâ€, explains the director of the Department of Animal Health, Geraldo Moraes.
The objective is to ensure the timely supply of vaccines in the 2022 stages to maintain satisfactory vaccination rates and maintain the immunity of the Brazilian herd, avoiding damage to the certification of a free country with vaccination in Brazil.
"We are in constant articulation with the state veterinary services, with the productive sector and with the vaccine producing industry in the country, so that the last stages of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease occur properly", guarantees the director.
According to Geraldo Moraes, the vaccine demand for this year has already been agreed and programmed with the producing industry, enabling the timely offer to the states involved within the months foreseen for vaccination, without the need, in principle, to extend the stages, as observed in the year 2021.
Given the concern of rural producers with a possible reduction in pregnancy rates in the herd, due to the handling of animals during vaccination, the director informs that “for the second stage of vaccination in particular, to be carried out in November and involving the entire bovine herd and buffalo, producers will be able to request authorization from the state veterinary services to carry out the vaccination of their animals from October 1, or postpone it to December, depending on the reproductive planning used in the herdâ€.
Vaccination in special areas, such as the Pantanal region and Bananal Island, remains unchanged, following the schedule initially planned. ■