Side effects of vaccine?

strawberriesclint · Post by **strawberriesclint** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 4:23 pm

hi all

as there is as of yet no proof that the vaccination causes side effects it is very worrying that people are choosing not to vaccinate simply beacause they have heard that there might be a problem, and are choosing to use garlice as a preventative measure, my question: does this garlic work, does this cause any problems?
it is very alarming that if a certain percentage of people does not vaccinate because of hearsay then the vaccination wont get rid of the midges anyway and those of us who have choosen to vaccinate will have wasted our time.
i to am very worried if vaccination does or does not work but surely for the sake of our dexters futures we must give it a try? at least now i know that if they were to get BT then i would have done every thing in my power to prevent this from happening, if on the other hand i had not vaccinated and my dexters contracted BT then i would feel guilty that i had not done enough.
just thought i would vent my personal feelings although i am aware not everyone shares my views and if any has an update on the BT vaccination please post it on here.
cyndy

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:53 pm

If you vaccinate and the farm next door does not, are you not still protected by the vaccine? Isn't it just personal choice? I think I might be missing something.

Edited By Broomcroft on 1214848473

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:08 pm

If your herd is vaccinated, then the hope is that the antibody levels produced by the vaccine will be sufficient to protect them. However the protection given may not be sufficient if there is a really heavy challenge. This is more likely to occur if you are surrounded by unvaccinated stock. This is a general principle in most vaccination situations and I presume will be true for BT.

What is probably more important in relation to the hight targets for vaccine cover is that if sufficient cover is achieved soon enough in the areas where infection remains from last year, then there is reasonable hope that the infection can be contained within these areas and eradicated. If the cover is insufficient there is more chance that infection will keep on extending.

As usual government in UK is too afraid of passing regulations farmers don't like - I know you may find that hard to believe, but it is true. Most of the unpopular regulations are due to our strict interpretation of regulations coming from Brussels. When left to ourselves we have weak government resulting for example in the current TB situation which should have been stamped on by restricting movement of cattle and extermination of infected badgers when the affected area was very very small. Probably too late now.

The good thing for us in Scotland is that the BT vaccination is to be compulsory, so as long as it does not reach us before the vaccination begins here late in 2008 we should reach levels which will prevent cross country spread in Scotland.

Duncan

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:46 pm

The only good thing to come out of Brussels is sprouts. You can keep the rest.

monica waltho · Post by **monica waltho** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:27 pm

I believe the reason it was not made compulsary was that it would take to much time to police and since it needed to be got on with as soon as possible they have left it voluntary but are urging us all to do it, believing most of us would see that we have to do it. How are they going to police it in Scotland?

There was an articule in this weeks Farmers Guaurdian reguarding the problems that the vaccine could cause saying there was a very low risk and no more than you would get using any other vaccine and since time was not on our side to do exhaustive tests to check it was 100% safe if any vaccine is, then they have decided to proceed.

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:45 pm

Monica,

I think the "policing2 mechanism is Scotland will consist of stock-keepers being bound to notify when they have vaccinated their stock and a random sampling at an appropriate interval to check that vaccination has been done. Personally this causes me a bit of worry as so many people take the detailed instructions on vaccination and handling the vaccine so lightly that I fear there may be a lot of failures identified which the stock keeper will dispute as they think they have done the job. Such things as making sure the vaccine has always been kept at the right temperature all the way from the factory to the farm is no easy business, even making sure that the vial is used within the stated time after opening could be difficult. But at least the process is compulsory so it should be better than a voluntary scheme.

Duncan

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:25 pm

Cyndy, I did,nt reccomend garlix as an alternative to vaccination, just as an added barrier until the vaccine kicks in which is at least two weeks after the second dose.
I have now given my cattle both doses and have had calves since ok, including one two days after second dose.

strawberriesclint · Post by **strawberriesclint** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:29 pm

hi marcus

sorry, i get a bit carried away when i hear people not vaccinating, have you tried swish?
its a pour on that keeps flies and midges at bay and protects the cattle from BT for 4 weeks, it works by way of when the midges land on the cattle they are killed hopefully before they get chance to bite.

cyndy