Status on use and delivery of foot and mouth and newcastle vaccines in Kenya

Abstract

The contribution of the livestock sector to food and nutritional security is challenged by high prevalence of diseases that limit productivity, trade and profitability within various livestock value chains in Kenya. Climate change has contributed to increased stress for the animals, higher disease prevalence, misuse of antibiotics and consequent antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Mass vaccination has been recommended by the Kenya AMR Policy and action plan 2017 as a sustainable disease control option to counter development of AMR. However, challenges in accessing quality vaccines constrain vaccination programs for important livestock diseases. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in Uasin Gishu and Nyandarua Counties to appraise use of New Castle disease (NCD) and Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) vaccines that are widely used in indigenous poultry and dairy value chains respectively and suggest improvements in delivery. Seventy-one (71%) of respondents reported to have experienced FMD outbreak in the recent past in both counties. Whereas up to 74% and 92% of farmers used NCD and FMD vaccines respectively, the schedule used did not lead to effective control of both diseases. Agro veterinary shops were the leading source of vaccines at 94% with the rest sourced from the manufacturers, distributors, county government, NGOs and extension service providers. Challenges hindering effective vaccine use included large pack size beyond the needs for small scale farmers (50%), unreliable supply (47%) and presumed presence of counterfeit products (15%) among others. The vaccines delivery infrastructure was found inadequate to authenticate vaccines at point of use and also in terms of compliance with cold chain requirements. The study recommends innovative vaccine delivery processes including product authentication and traceability along the supply chain.