NPA warns of impact of pig vaccine shortages
More antibiotics are being used in response to a vaccine shortages.
The National Pig Association (NPA) has highlighted the impact that vaccine shortages are having on the pig farming sector.
It warns that continued availability issues may be resulting in an increase in antibiotic use on pig farms.
Disruptions in the supply of vaccines is said to have been going on for a year. This may be attributed to a number of reasons, including recalls, failed batches and too few importations into Great Britain.
With an estimated ten per cent of veterinary vaccines produced in the UK, it is reported that other parts of the world will also be seeing the impact.
The NPA believes that the vaccine production issues may be a result of a diversion of vaccine manufacturing priorities to Covid and other diseases. As well as limiting space in vaccine manufacturing schedules, this may also cause a shortage of supplies such as vaccine bottles.
The schedules are also impacted by the short shelf lives of the vaccines, which can make cold storage and transport problematic.
The vaccine shortages are believed to be a contributor to an increase in antibiotic use, with more antibiotics being used in place of the vaccine. In autumn 2024, data from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales (VARSS) showed that there had been an 18 per cent increase in antibiotic use between 2022 and 2023.
The NPA says that it will be reporting the impact of the vaccine shortage back to pharmaceutical companies and the government.
It also says that the vaccine shortage, and its impact on antibiotic use, may be difficult to resolve. It says that it will require a collaborative effort from livestock industries, government and pharmaceutical companies to tackle the issue.
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