Yesterday, we opened our discussion on swine health initiatives in 2021 with Dr. Liz Wagstrom, Chief Veterinarian at the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). We discussed where the fight against African Swine Fever was and the continued need for more border inspectors to help keep foreign animal diseases out of the country.
Today, we start talking about vaccines and where things are on their research, development, and distribution.
NPPC was one of many groups that pushed for funding for a vaccine bank in the last farm bill. The worry that we would be caught with our guard down in the event of an outbreak was disconcerting. Some funding was secured, albeit not as much as what was hoped. However, work continues to make sure we can have vaccines on hand if and when we need them.
The next big question on vaccines is, ?where are we on the path to having vaccines for African Swine Fever?? Wagstrom says while a vaccine is still a little way down the road, a corner has been turned.
During the early part of the year, we saw COVID-19 vaccines getting fast-track approval from oversight bodies. This enabled companies to produce vaccines and distribute them faster, in hopes of combatting the pandemic. With AFS being such a global problem, I asked Wagstrom if this were something that could also be done once an ASF vaccine comes out. Dr. Wagstrom talks about what would have to happen.
When we continue this topic with Dr. Wagstrom, we will turn our attention to Foot and Mouth Disease, lessons learned in other animal disease outbreaks, antibiotics, and more.
