Fridge Check campaign launched to educate farmers about vaccine storage
UK, MILTON KEYNES, February 08, 2018 – Farmers are being urged to check their farm fridge temperature after new research conducted by MSD Animal Health found none of the fridges observed storing vaccines were able to maintain the correct internal temperature of between 2°C and 8°C.
In addition, a subsequent survey of farmers showed that only around half knew the correct temperature for vaccine storage, showing there is a lack of knowledge surrounding standard procedures.
Paul Williams, MSD Animal Health UK technical manager for ruminants, explains why it’s important vaccines are kept within the correct temperature range.
“Failing to maintain the correct fridge storage temperature compromises vaccine effectiveness and consequently animal health.
“In a significant number of farm fridges monitored, the temperature was elevated to 80C for long periods of time, with the maximum fridge temperature recorded being 24°C. “In the worst cases, over 60% of fridges had been at 0°C or below 0°C long enough for vital contents to freeze. When the temperature is too high, vaccines become ineffective. If frozen, the vaccine is destroyed.
“This research shows we have work to do in educating customers about how to store vaccines and I encourage all farmers to check their farm fridge temperatures.
“To promote better practice, we’ve launched an awareness campaign called Fridge Check to educate farmers on the importance of storing vaccines correctly.
“The campaign is being promoted by Disease? Not On My Farm!, an initiative helping farmers take a more proactive approach to preventing disease on farm.”
To find out more, visit the Disease? Not On My Farm! Facebook and Twitter pages or follow the hashtag #FridgeCheck for more information about how to store vaccines correctly.
Use medicines responsibly. Please visit www.noah.co.uk/responsible for more information. Bovilis® IBR Marker Live and Marker Inac contain BHV-1 strain GK/D (gE¯). Bovilis® BVD is an inactivated vaccine containing cytopathogenic BVD virus strain C86. Bovilis® Bovipast RSP contains inactivated BRSV, PI3 and Mannheimia haemolytica A1. Legal categories POM-V.
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About MSD Animal Health
For more than a century, MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of MSD. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest range of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.msd-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.