27 April 2013
World Veterinary Day was instigated by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to be celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. On this occasion the veterinary profession highlights its various contributions to the health of both animals and humans, underlining the vital role of veterinarians in also ensuring animal welfare, food safety, food security, safe world trade in animals and animal products as well as protecting public health.
Theme for 2013: “Vaccination to prevent and protect”
The discovery of disease prevention through vaccination is one of the greatest scientific achievements. Vaccines are very valuable tools to stop the spread of a large number of transmissible diseases that threaten the health and welfare of animals and people.
Vaccination of animals helps people to protect their livestock and their companion animals, as well as themselves in case of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can also affect humans). Through well organised campaigns, vaccination contributes to the eradication of diseases from certain areas and even from the world.
A successful vaccination campaign depends mainly on the use of high quality vaccines, appropriate infrastructure to ensure the rapid and safe delivery of vaccines, monitoring of vaccinated flocks, movement control of animals, and adequate financial resources.
The veterinary profession, through effective and efficient veterinary services, is crucial for the success of vaccination in animal health.
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