Vaccine Soon Available & Raising Concerns

Vaccine Soon Available & Raising Concerns

Vaccine Soon Available & Raising Concerns. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Northwest Report.

Since 1993 - USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s Center for Veterinary Biologics has licensed swine influenza vaccine for several strains of swine influenza virus. Later this summer - the CVB will release to veterinary biologics manufacturers the master seed virus for the strain of H1N1 that emerged in the spring.  The agency believes the master seed virus will be ready in early- to mid-July.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explains some of the concerns brought up about a proposed National Animal ID System during recent listening sessions.

VILSACK: There have been a number of concerns that have been raised which I am sensitive to. One is the cost, two is the technology whether or not the government is going to address specific technology or a multitude range of technologies that could be used. Three obviously whether it’s voluntary or mandatory. Four, who bears the cost. There is a significant  between cattle, pork and poultry in terms of the overall cost to the industry and there are deep concerns about who gets the information, who uses it, how is it accessed and whether the public through “Freedom of Information” has access to the information. All of those issues and I suspect a whole lot more have been identified. As we look for improvements we’re going to have to think creatively and innovatively about.

Now here’s today’s Washington Grange Report.

(GRANGE)

That’s today’s Northwest Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.

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