Burke County Extension
Care and Handling of Vaccines
County Agent News
Dan Folske
November 16, 2009
Care and Handling of Vaccines
All animal biological products are produced under license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture They must all be pure, effective, and safe (won’t produce the disease) before permission is given to sell the product in interstate commerce. All government control is lost after the product leaves the manufacturing plant. It is important for you to know how these products are handled after leaving the plant and until they are injected into the animal.
1. All biologicals should be shipped in a cool and well-insulated container. They should be stored in a refrigerator.
2. Lyophilized dry products should not be mixed until ready to be used. These products come in two containers, one containing a small dry power or cake, the other, a liquid. Do not mix more than what will be used in one hour maximum. Never keep mixed portions, even until the next day, as all of these products lose their immunizing properties after a few hours of being mixed.
3. Always observe the expiration date printed on the bottle. If the product has expired, do not use it.
4. Never allow biologicals to sit in the sun before or after being mixed. Sunlight will destroy as well as heat the product. Maintain your biological products in a cooler chest with frozen water-filled cans. This will keep them cool as well as keep them out of the direct sunlight.
5. Do not save parts of vials. If using a multiple dose container, never enter the container with a needle that isn’t sterile.
6. Never use syringes and needles that have been sterilized in chemical disinfectants. Sterilize all syringes and needles used for vaccines by boiling in distilled water for 20 minutes. Chemical disinfectants will destroy modified live and live biologicals. Do not waste the effort of livestock handling and the cost of vaccine by trying to clean equipment in alcohol or some other chemical disinfectant.
7. Always burn or otherwise destroy vaccine bottles. Do not leave them lying around as a hazard to man and animal.
8. Be as clean as possible with the inoculation procedure. This doesn’t mean efficiency need be sacrificed. Keep an adequate supply of clean, sterilized needles available and change when one becomes contaminated. It is a good idea to change needles about every five to 10 cows if anaplasmosis is a problem in your area.
9. Always give biologicals according to the manufacturer’s directions. Intramuscular means in the muscle and should be given with a 11/2-inch long needle. Subcutaneous means under the skin and 3/8- to 1/2-inch needles should be used. A 16 gauge needle will not bend as easily and last longer for both routes. If the manufacturer recommends the use of large quantities such as antiserum, use 3/8- to 1/2-inch needles and do not put more than 10-15 cc in each site. Do not increase or decrease the manufacturer’s recommended dose. The dose is based on the number of immunizing units per cc and this concentration may very from one manufacturer to the next. Always read the instructions. If the intranasal route is used as is recommended for some products, remember to change cannulas often. Do not hurry the process. To do a good job of immunizing, a certain amount of vaccine must come in contact with the lining of the nose. Do not reduce the dose.
10. You should not expect the vaccination to offer protection until after 10 days after giving the vaccine. The exception to this is the intranasal route. This route will give a relatively short duration of protection within a few hours to a few days after administration.
In conclusion, use extreme care in purchasing and caring for your immunizing products. Do not use chemical disinfectants. Keep them cool, out of the sun, and don’t save parts of unused or mixed bottles. Do not mix products unless specifically recommended by the manufacturer. Do not use outdated material and follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on dosage and route of administration. Consult your local practicing veterinary on what products are recommended in your area and on effectiveness of the various vaccines. Above all, do not be in a hurry or be sloppy with your procedures. The idea of using immunizing agents is an aid in the prevention of diseases. Don’t waste your time, money, and effort trying to set a new world record for speed of administration at the risk of a severe disease outbreak.
Dan Folske
NDSU Extension Service/Cropping Systems
Burke County
PO Box 280
Bowbells, ND 58721
Phone: 701-377-2927
email: dan.folske@ndsu.edu
