Last week was World Veterinary Day, celebrated on April 25. Established in 2000, this international observance recognizes veterinarians and veterinary professionals for their important work that protect animal health, as well as public health, food safety and the environment.
Veterinary care is, at first glance, primarily about animal welfare. Animals are an important part of daily life, from the dogs and cats we consider family members to the animal products consumed.
Many people are unaware of the connection between the care that veterinary professionals provide and the safety it offers to the human population, protecting them from disease through direct contact with animals or with contaminated foods. Healthy animals directly promote the health of humans and lead to healthier communities for everyone.
Safe Animal Vaccines = Safety for Human
Vaccines must be kept at a specific temperature, usually between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit, both in storage and in transit. The temperature directly affects the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine, known as the cold chain requirement.
Vaccines are biologically fragile products that contain living organisms, inactivated pathogens, biological proteins and weakened viruses, which are all sensitive to temperature fluctuations. If the vaccine is too warm, the proteins can break down and live organisms may die. If the vaccine is too cold and becomes frozen, the vaccine structure may decompose, separating the adjuvants. Once it has been damaged by temperature changes, the vaccine cannot be recovered.
The result is an animal that is no longer protected by the vaccine. If the vaccine arrives outside the ideal range, the animal may not develop immunity, allowing it to contract and spread the disease. The veterinarian, farmer or pet owner may believe that the animal has protection when it does not, creating a false sense of security.
The damage is often not visible to the person administering the vaccine. It may appear completely normal and no problem is detectable during the injection. If a shipment of vaccines is determined to be compromised, it wastes money and resources, often causing an entire large-scale order to be discarded.
At a broader level, the effects can be disastrous, causing animal outbreaks to spread and persist, creating risk to humans and to the food supply.
Plastilite’s Integritemp division specializes in custom, innovative temperature-controlled and cold chain management solutions that ensure your product arrives in its intended state. The exclusive ControliQ shipping system is not only safe for your product’s integrity, but also offers economical solutions that are readily recyclable.
Contact us at Plastilite/Integritemp to learn more about the benefits of EPS and how it can help you reduce shipping costs while promoting animal welfare and public health safety.