Forget your vaccine. What about my dairy cows? Animal vaccine shortage.
You just thought supply chain issues and vaccine shortages were for humans. Turns out my girls could be at risk due to a lack of vaccine supply, too. Lets say a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak took place while supply chain shortages are still in place, we could be looking at some serious issues for all livestock.
This comes on top of the rush on Ivermectin, usually reserved for those with four legs and a tail, being snatched up by bipeds (there is a human version) who are into things like Tucker Carlson and Alex Jones. Even Joe Rogan joined in on that party.
To reiterate, I am absolutely aware there is a very clear difference between human medicine, animal medicine, and the overlap. The focus here is shortages, in a world where shortages shouldn’t be part of the equation.
As a farmer, it’s my top priority to care for our girls.
I use every single tool in my toolbox to do just that through keeping them safe, cool in the summer, warm in the winter, well nourished, appropriately vaccinated (as overseen by our veterinarian), and employ strict biosecurity protocols to ensure the girls life in a regulated bio “bubble.”
Japan and South Korea have attempted to resolve outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the past through depopulation, i.e. killing the infected animal. As someone who spends a lot of time with and is dependent upon my animals, this obviously does not seem like a pleasant or ideal plan. I’ve watched the Sopranos, but I’m just not sure I can take out a family member, even if they get a little frothy at the mouth.
Could you imagine the disdain on Francie’s face if I had to explain that one of her girls had to go? If there was a mob boss in this scenario, we all know who’s ring we would have kissed, and it’s not mine.
Plus, who wants to explain to Reagan and Lambie that we can’t protect her cow bffs from getting sick? One, two, three, not me.
Now, we do have this little thing called the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank.
Problem is, that bank does not have enough in it’s vault to handle any kind of large scale outbreak. A small local problem might be quashed, but if you’re facing statewide or regional outbreaks, we are SOL.
For more information on why we vaccinate our cows, check out Vaccinations 101.
