Vaccine handling best practices help strengthen herd health

The goal of vaccination is to produce a healthier pig. It is important that vaccines are handled and administered according to labels and following best practices so that the vaccine creates the desired immune response in the pig.

Dr. Darren Remsburg, Associate Director, Veterinary Medical Information & Product Support, Zoetis, provides insight into best practices for handling and administering vaccines.

Understanding product labels

Read the label and understand how to properly handle and administer the vaccine.

Consult with your herd veterinarian about your vaccination program. Most vaccines are administered as an individual injection, but most pigs receive a series of vaccines over their lives, Remsburg said. Take care to vaccinate ahead of anticipated disease exposure and ensure vaccinations are spaced out enough to promote strong immunity development and reduce adverse reactions.

Vaccine storage and handling

There are labeled guidelines for vaccine storage. Storing a vaccine outside of the labeled temperature range (either too cold or too hot) can cause a negative effect on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine, Remsburg explained, so proper handling of the product from the time that it arrives on farm is important.

Sometimes, the fridge in the barn used for storing vaccines is there because it wasn’t good enough to be in the house anymore, he said, but if that fridge doesn’t work well enough to keep food cold in the house, maybe it doesn’t work well enough for vaccines, either.

Place temperature monitoring devices inside the refrigerator to make sure temperatures are maintained within range and the interior of the fridge is consistently cooled.

In situations when the power goes out and there isn’t a backup source of power on a farm, a best practice is to keep the fridge closed until the power is restored. If you keep a couple of thermometers inside the fridge, then you have an objective measure of the temperature to assess the potential viability of stored vaccines.

Understand expiration dates

Vaccines are intended to be a risk management policy for preventing disease, Remsburg said. Zoetis and other vaccine manufacturers only know that a vaccine meets specifications until the expiration date. Once you get beyond the expiration date on the label, you’re potentially risking the safety and efficacy of a product that is intended to reduce risk, he added.

If a vaccine is within the labeled date range and has been stored properly, it should be just as safe and efficacious as when it was purchased, he said.

Reconstituting vaccines

Generally speaking, vaccines are divided into two broad categories: ready to use and those that require reconstitution. Ready-to-use products are usually killed vaccines. Modified-live vaccines that require reconstitution are generally more sensitive to environmental temperatures.

There is limited data on how long a vaccine lasts once it is reconstituted, Remsburg said. A good rule of thumb is to only reconstitute the amount of vaccine that you need to work the group of animals that are in front of you – maybe a side of a barn or a pen. If you start working a group of pigs in the morning and stop for lunch, any reconstituted vaccine you have left at lunch should be discarded. Start with freshly reconstituted product when you resume working.

Reconstituted vaccines do not keep, even under refrigeration. Even at freezer temperatures, we expect a significant reduction in the viability of the vaccine, so it is not recommended to store reconstituted vaccines, he said. They are not recommended for use, he emphasized.

Needle selection and calibration

Most vaccines for swine are administered intramuscularly, typically in the neck. In young pigs, an 18-gauge, one-half or three-quarter inch needle is typically recommended, and needle sizes increase as the pigs get larger, Remsburg said.

For vaccinating sows, a longer needle, such as 1.5-inches, may be required to ensure the vaccine is deposited in the muscle.

The PQA Plus handbookThis links to a pdf fileOpens in a new window has more information on appropriate needle sizes and gauges (see page 20).¹

Needle breaks are a concern, which is a factor in pork quality, Remsburg said. To avoid broken needles, pigs should be restrained as best possible so they’re not moving suddenly and snapping the needle off at the hub, leaving the shaft of the needle behind. Further, needles should be changed regularly and bent needles should be discarded immediately and not used.

Follow calibration instructions for the vaccinator being used to ensure the correct dose of vaccine is administered to each pig, and don’t withdraw the needle until the full dose has been delivered through the syringe (Figure 1).

After vaccination is complete, reusable syringes should be washed with hot water only. Using soap or disinfectants can leave a residue that may negatively impact a future vaccine.

Figure 1.

Source: Vaccinologist Program by Zoetis Services LLC.

Pig handling

By and large, we’re vaccinating pigs by either picking them up at weaning time or confining them in a restricted space, Remsburg said. Always move pigs calmly and handle them in a way that reduces stress and the likelihood of injury. Move intentionally and walk slowly through groups of pigs.

Mark animals as the vaccine is administered to ensure each pig receives one dose and you’re not overvaccinating some animals and undervaccinating others, he said.

If at any point in vaccinating pigs something doesn’t appear as expected, stop and reevaluate. There’s a lot of situations that could cause vaccine reactions – maybe the vaccine was too cold, or the pigs were already sick (always vaccinate healthy pigs), Remsburg said. If you need to call in your veterinarian, do so to help troubleshoot.

Swine Care Programs

Training caregivers on vaccination practices is a key aspect of a successful herd health program. Zoetis offers Swine Care Programs, including the Vaccinologist Program, to provide comprehensive, hands-on training for pig caregivers that creates an understanding and commitment to proper vaccine administration.

Through the programs, caregivers learn about vaccine storage and handling, syringe calibration, animal handling, recordkeeping, and more.

Contact your Zoetis representative to learn more about the Swine Care Programs.

1. The Pork Quality Assurance Plus® (PQA Plus®) Education Handbook, published by the National Pork Board, provides production practices based on the scientific research to pork producers, available at this linkThis links to a pdf fileOpens in a new window.