Tips to handle vaccines
By Dairy Herd news staff
| Monday, February 01, 2010
Compliance and proper vaccine handling and administration are two of our biggest issues in dairy vaccination programs today, says Jerry Olson, senior veterinarian with Pfizer Animal Health. Olson offers the following tips when handling vaccines.
Rotate vaccine inventory. The oldest vaccine should be in the front. Short-dated product should be identified and specifically marked for quick use. If vaccine protocols change, then vaccine no longer used should be returned for credit.
Monitor refrigerator temperatures. Have a thermometer in each refrigerator. Buy a thermometer that can record maximum and minimum temperatures in the refrigerator. The temperature needs to be between 37 degrees F to 45 degrees F. Freezing vaccinations could damage them. Make sure there is room behind the refrigerator and in the refrigerator for air movement. Clean coils on refrigerator.
Use open vaccines quickly. All vaccines should be used ASAP after opening. Open only one bottle of premixed vaccine at a time. Mix up modified live as you go. Do not store mixed vaccines.
