The Hindu Business Line : Expert panel clears `Goraksha' vaccine

AN expert committee that probed the failure of the first phase of a Government-sponsored animal disease control project has vouched for the safety of the vaccine used.

The committee that investigated the animal casualties, supposedly resulting from the `Goraksha' project, discovered many incidental flaws that might have triggered an adverse reaction in the target population.

The report, submitted to the Minister of Agriculture, Ms K. R. Gouri Amma, noted that the programme was launched in 11 districts in October last year with the assistance of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB).

The target was to vaccinate 80 to 85 per cent of the populationsusceptible to the foot-and-mouth disease.

But some media reports suspecting the `efficacy and purity' of the vaccine, Raksha `O' Vac, triggered panic among cattle owners. They even resorted to ill-treating the field staff, including professionals and technicians.

The expert committee observed that the number of adverse reactions in the targeted population was `negligible,' since out of the 11.75 lakh animals administered with the vaccine, only 284 had died (0.26 per cent). Another 168 suffered abortions (0.16 per cent).

It is possible that the field staff may have administered the vaccine to animals in varying stages of health (as in the pregnant, the sick, the aged and the worm-infested). This may have triggered adverse reactions, even leading to death in some cases.

The committee observed that the syringes supplied were not durable enough to last more than four vaccinations when the official directive was to use each for no less than 10.

The wrong size of the needle was responsible for the high incidence of reactions in the goat population. It is possible that the needle suitable for use in cattle may have been employed on goats, leading to unintended penetration of the cervical vertebral column. The committee recommended a custom-made needle for goats.

The vaccine should be administered on the thigh muscle, not on the neck, in both goats as well as debilitated cattle. Some animals may have died from manhandling, even strangulation, in the process of being administered with the shot. A few suffered abortions, which could be attributed to vaccination stress or trauma resulting from excessive struggling.

The committee recommended that weak and malnourished animals as well as young ones below four months must be spared from vaccination till they regain health.

The death of animals should be compensated by adequate payout by the Government at local market rates. Only this would help restore the public's confidence in the programme, even as the Government braces itself to launch the second phase of the programme.

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