This winter NOAH is driving the #VaccinesWork campaign, initiated in the veterinary sector by RUMA in 2018.
Launching in the New Year, the campaign will be working with farmers
- To raise awareness of how and why vaccines work and the range of diseases they protect against
- To review and improve how vaccines are stored and administered
- To encourage use of existing vaccines
“However, research shows that farmers could be losing out, despite their best intentions, if vaccines are not stored properly or administered correctly. In this campaign we will focus on simple tips for storing and using vaccines. If this is not done correctly, effectiveness may be reduced, the vaccine may fail to protect animals against disease and farmers may have wasted their efforts, potentially deterring future vaccinations.” she said.
Our top storage tips are:
- Correct fridge storage is between 2-8 degrees Celsius (with 5 being the optimum)
- Keep cool on the road – leaving a vaccine for 30 minutes in a hot vehicle can render it ineffective – use a cooler box/bag when transporting vaccines
- Use a dedicated medicines fridge
- The middle of the fridge has the most constant temperature
- Store vaccines in date order and use in sequence – ONLY USE vaccines in date
“We want to make sure that every dose counts!” she said.