A cow being vaccinated. Photo/courtesy.
With the nationwide vaccination of livestock set to begin this year, the agricultural stakeholders have called upon the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (KEVEVAPI) to reveal the details on the vaccines set to be rolled out.
In a letter seen by JEDCA MEDIA, stakeholders also demanded to know of any partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the manufacturing of the vaccines.
“With the planned vaccination of millions of cattle, goats, and sheep in Kenya, kindly specify if these vaccines are viral, killed, modified live vaccines (MLV), and/or mucosal vaccines,” the letter reads in part.
Critics of the livestock vaccination campaign argue that the vaccines are meant to reduce methane emission from livestock, an idea that the government has refuted saying that the vaccines are meant to fight foot and mouth disease (FMD).
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Livestock methane emission question
Experts have warned against the rush to vaccinate the animals without prior testing and piloting of the program.
Alex Gitonga, MD, Tanolope, Dairy Investment Consultant and Certified Cowsignals Master trainer said that vaccination is one of the ways of reducing methane emission but warned that this practice hasn’t been done anywhere therefore it requires a lot of research. He also said the program shouldn’t be rolled out once instead it should be done in phases.
“Vaccination has not been done anywhere else so, it’s something that may require a bit of research and piloting but not to the whole population,” Gitonga said.
He further questioned how the reduction of methane gas emission in Africa will impact the overall Greenhouse gas emission, given that other nations are emitting more greenhouse gases.
He also questioned if the vaccine residue can find itself in livestock products like meat and milk and its impact in the food chain. According to him, the program needs more time for pilots and ensuring safety standards are met.
“The question we have to ask is: does the same vaccine residue find its way to livestock products thus getting into the food chain? A few more scientific questions need to be answered before we do piloting,” he asserted.
The Kenyan government is planning to vaccinate at least 22 million livestock and 50 million sheep and goats early this year.
President William Ruto emphasized that the vaccination drive will continue as planned during his new year’s address to the nation. He however said the vaccination of livestock will be “voluntary.”
