The journey of poultry disease prevention is a complex one, culminating in what is known as the ‘last mile’—the crucial stage of subcutaneous vaccination. Despite significant investments in research and development of vaccines, the effectiveness of this final step hinges on the quality injection factor: the capability of both the syringe and its operator to execute the vaccination precisely as intended.
The Syringe: A Pivotal Tool in Disease Prevention
Vaccinating poultry is not just about stopping diseases; it’s also about making sure we can produce more chickens. This is the last mile, vaccinating starts with the development of the best vaccine, but it is only done with vaccinating is done right. If done right, it protects all the chickens. But if done wrong, it can put all the chickens in danger and cause big money losses.
With more and more chickens being raised to give us protein, it’s really important to get this last step right. In order to ensure that the vaccine will provide maximum protection we need to verify that they are given correctly, illustrating the importance of the syringe.
What Can Be Done?
Poultry growers and vaccine companies teams must take decisive steps to ensure success in the ‘last mile.’ This includes selecting the right syringe – a decision that can significantly impact the vaccine’s potency and, consequently, the birds’ immunity levels.
According to vaccine manufacturing giant Merial, which was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim, “proper vaccination planning and administration improves disease control and the financial success of a commercial poultry operation”.
In the process growers aim that:
- The vaccination rate will approach 100 percent
- The procedure is correctly executed
- The dosage is accurate
- The equipment functions flawlessly throughout the days of vaccination
For vaccines to be effective, preferably, syringes are made using durable materials such as stainless steel and tempered glass, which do not interact with the vaccine. They should be suitable for automated processes, easy to maintain, and simple to disinfect. Precision in dosing for various vaccine types is paramount, as is ergonomic design for user comfort during repetitive tasks.
The poultry industry should therefore prioritize dependable syringe equipment making sure they can consistently deliver the correct dosage in the right manner, thereby ensuring the successful completion of the ‘last mile’ in disease prevention.
