District Veterinary officers cautioned against selling FMD vaccines

The Minister of State for Animal Industry Hon Bright Rwamirama has cautioned District Veterinary Officers in Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) affected districts against selling the vaccines to farmers since the cost of administration of the vaccines will be borne by government both in the old and new policy.

“Last time we prepared payment for vaccine administration of the veterinary officers in the districts however am amazed to learn that some of you are charging 1,000 per cow, let me warn you, fore warned forearmed. If you get problems please don’t come here to plead” he said.

Rwamirama added, “The CAO’s who are here, If money delayed, you should know that money came and will come because we have received the money for both the vaccine and money for the cost of administration, don’t make this exercise very difficult, your preparing grounds for tough measures against you yourselves. Given that the farmer will be paying for the vaccine and we shall be paying for the cost of administration, you’re risking your jobs”.

Hon Rwamirama made the remarks while handing over 3 million FMD vaccines to 27 district officials at the National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Center (NADDEC) in Entebbe on Monday.

“The vaccine we are launching today is trivalent, it has A, O and SAT 2, its missing SAT 1, we must note that the current FMD strain that we are experiencing is SAT O and its covered in this vaccine. Administering this vaccine is in preparation for shift in policy, previously FMD vaccine was free and compulsory and yet we are not providing to cover all susceptible animals” he said.

Hon Rwamiramwa said the policy shift is aimed at eradicating the current outbreak where government will subsequently avail 44 million doses for all susceptible animals’ which will be borne by the farmer.

“We recently gave out 1 million doses of vaccines to 23 highly affected districts, now we are getting 3 million which makes it 4 million, it’s good news and we need to ride on this good will of government to make sure that we stop the spread and outbreak of FMD………..We shall be vaccinating twice a year and every farmer will be compelled to vaccinate twice that means we will no longer have FMD, it will be history” he said.

The in charge NADDEC Mr Peter Wanyama noted the need for all people to address issues of animal diseases which have led to the bans and restrictions in the affected areas which affects the economy.

“Animal diseases and diseases like FMD don’t only affect animals but they are a threat to food security, livelihoods and have a potential to increase poverty levels to communities and the country at large” he said.

The Acting Director Animal Resources Mr James Kakungulu said there will be need to vaccinate livestock in the affected districts after six months since the FMD vaccines last upto six months.

“In October 3023 we reported over 40 districts with an outbreak of FMD and under quarantine, in 2023, we had managed to control FMD with meager resources, at that time we procured over 25 million doses of FMD and did a risk based vaccination programe” he said.

Mr Kakungulu said FMD mainly spread in October mainly due to livestock movement during the festive season and issues of trade.

“This time around, we have been able to acquire and procure enough vaccines, we have procured 10 million doses of FMD vaccines. This is quite a big number, we have never had an opportunity to procure this and we do hope after this we shall be able to eradicate FMD, 10 million doses isn’t not enough but it’s a starting point, our goal is to have 80 percent hard immunity” he said.