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Cattle Vaccine Handling and Management Guidelines: D. Gunn, K. S. Jensen, S. Williams, C. Parsons, T. Hudson, J. England
Cattle Vaccine Handling and Management Guidelines: D. Gunn, K. S. Jensen, S. Williams, C. Parsons, T. Hudson, J. England
Modified-live vaccines
Modified-live vaccines (MLV) are made with a virus
or bacterium that is attenuated, or weakened, so the
organism will not cause disease in most healthy
animals but will still stimulate immunity. These types
of vaccine are not stable in solution so the isolates are
Figure 1. Vaccine stored properly between 35° and 45°F has a
freeze-dried to a cake in a vaccine bottle. To use a
fine-grained, uniform structure. Photo by Dr. Umit Kartoglu, World
MLV, a special sterile liquid or a specified killed liquid Health Organization.
vaccine is added to the “cake” to make a vaccine
solution ready for injection.
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Once MLVs are activated (made into a solution through
the addition of the appropriate liquid), they need to be
used within 2 hours and kept cool at temperatures
between 35o and 45oF. To accomplish this while
vaccinating animals, keep vaccine in a cooler next to
the chute. Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight to
prevent premature warming and keep the vaccine out
of the sun to avoid both warming and UV damage.
Refrigerator Monitoring
REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURES can be monitored
through the use of minimum/maximum thermometers
(figure 3). Monitoring refrigerator temperature on a
weekly or even daily basis will help you determine if
the refrigerator is functioning properly. Monitor and Figure 3. Refrigerator temperatures can be monitored with
minimum/maximum thermometers. Photo by K. Scott Jensen.
record temperatures at least weekly.
Also consider the age, type, and location (barn, porch, material is adequately packaged. Community take-back
or other storage areas) of the refrigerator. Refrigerator events or household hazardous waste collection
location can have a substantial impact on how facilities may also accept unused and expired animal
efficiently the refrigerator operates. For example, vaccine.
a refrigerator kept in a noninsulated barn may be
adversely affected by high and low ambient Although many live and killed vaccines can be
temperature extremes. These temperature extremes disposed as household waste in trash receptacles
can damage products stored inside the refrigerator. and/or incinerated, vaccines containing thimerosal
(an ingredient containing mercury) should be disposed
of in a lined landfill.
Vaccine Disposal
PROPER DISPOSAL of animal health products at the
farm and ranch level is as important as proper use.
Environmental contamination, particularly of water,
with hazardous or potentially hazardous biological
wastes is one of the top 30 environmental public
concerns. Consequently, questions arise as to the
proper disposal of these materials and the associated
syringes, needles, empty vials and bottles, and expired
products.
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Vaccine Best Management Practices
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• Do not mix products or combine different vaccine Disposing of vaccine
products in the same bottle or syringe.
• Always read the vaccine label or package insert and
• Do not use the same vaccine gun for different follow any disposal instructions that are provided.
vaccines.
• Unused vaccines are recommended for incineration
• Keep vaccine cool in a dark environment and out of or sterilization via autoclave, chemically, or by other
sunlight when storing and using it. approved means.
• Do not mix modified live vaccines if you won't be able • If disposal instructions are not provided or you are
to use them within 1–2 hours of reconstituting them. unable to incinerate or sterilize vaccine, discard
vaccine in the household trash.
• Use transfer needles for mixing modified live vaccine
to prevent contamination and accidents. • State departments of environmental quality and the
United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary
• Discard bottles of killed vaccine that have been opened Services recommend that expired or unused vaccine
for more than 2 days because vaccines can be contam- be placed into a rigid plastic container with cat litter,
inated by repeated introduction of air and needles. coffee grounds, or compost, sealed and placed into a
trash receptacle.
Injecting vaccine
• Follow your state’s beef quality assurance guidelines. • Remove any personal information that may be listed
on the packaging.
• Read and follow all label instructions.
• DO NOT place vaccine into sewer or septic systems or
• Give injections in front of the shoulder in the middle water sources by flushing down the toilet or draining
neck region. in a sink unless the label instructs you to do so.
• Avoid giving injections in the nuchal ligament of the • Burn unused and empty vaccine containers in burn
neck region. barrels or incinerators. Any remaining glass can be
recycled or discarded with household waste.
• As indicated by state beef quality assurance
guidelines, give injections subcutaneously unless
otherwise specified on the label. General Recommendations for
• Remove air from syringes and/or guns prior to
all Injectable Drugs
injecting vaccine. • Read and follow label instructions.
• Use the correct gauge and length of needle as • Practice good sanitation of equipment and the
specified by the label. working environment.
• Change needles every time you fill a syringe or • Clean syringes with hot water only and dry them
vaccine gun. completely.
• Change needles that become burred, bent, or broken. • Never use soap or disinfectant to clean internal parts
of syringes and vaccine guns. They will leave a
• Never straighten and reuse a broken needle.
residue that can affect vaccine efficacy.
• Space multiple injections 4 inches apart on the
• Use a minimum/maximum refrigerator thermometer.
animal to avoid mixing different products.
• Record product lot numbers of animal health
• Most vaccines have 21-day withdrawal periods; those
products, administration dates, and withdrawal
with oil-based adjuvants generally have 60-day
times.
withdrawal periods. Always read the label to
determine withdrawal times and follow them • Maintain vaccination records for a minimum of
appropriately. 3 years.
• A major problem is contamination from repeated • Have all members of your operation complete beef
entry into bottles with used needles. Use a new quality assurance (BQA) certification and routinely
needle each time syringes are filled. follow its guidelines.
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Notes About the Authors:
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Troxel, T. R., and B. L. Barham. 2009. Case Study: The Danielle Gunn, Extension Educator, University of Idaho Extension,
Temperature Variability of Refrigerators Storing Animal Fort Hall; K. Scott Jensen, Extension Educator, University of Idaho
Health Products. The Professional Animal Scientist Extension, Owyhee County; Shannon Williams Extension
25:202-206. Educator, University of Idaho Extension, Lemhi County;
Cory Parsons, Livestock Agent, Oregon State University,
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Torell, R. 2006. Back to Basics: Frozen Vaccines. Angus Beef Baker County; Tipton Hudson, Extension Educator, Washington
Bulletin Oct.: 72, 74.
State University, Kittitas County; James England, Professor of
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Fife, T. E., J. B. Glaze, Jr., K. S. Jensen, N. Rimbey, S.L. Kane, Veterinary Medicine and Virologist, Caine Veterinary Teaching
S. D. Baker, J. Church, S. J. Etter, D. Gunn, G. Keetch, Center, University of Idaho
S. Nash, S. Williams, and R. L. Wilson. 2013. Animal Health
Product Handling and Management by Idaho Producers
and Retailers. The Professional Animal Scientist (in press).
Resources
England, J. J., 2010. Immunology: Maximizing the Immune
Response of the Cow to Increase Profits and Production.
In Western Beef Resource Committee, editor, Cow-Calf
Management Guide and Cattle Producer’s Library,
Second Edition. University of Idaho Department of
Animal and Veterinary Science, Moscow.
ALWAYS read and follow the instructions printed on the animal health product label. The recommendations in this publication do not
substitute for instructions on the label. Use animal health products with care in conjunction with a licensed veterinarian consultation.
Trade Names—To simplify information, trade names have been used. No endorsement of named products is intended nor is criticism
implied of similar products not mentioned.
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