Getting the most out of vaccine programs
- Project No: ANH.13.18
- Lead Researcher(s): Nathan Erickson (Western College of Veterinary Medicine)
- Collaborators: John Ellis, Sheryl Gow, Cheryl Waldner, John Campbell (Western College of Veterinary Medicine)
- Year Started: 2024
Background
Vaccine development is very costly. But what if there was a way to make currently available vaccines more effective? There is some evidence that heterologous vaccine protocols that use one kind of vaccine for the initial vaccination, and a different kind of vaccine for the booster (e.g. a modified live vaccine for the initial calfhood vaccination and a killed vaccine for the booster at weaning) may provide better protection than a homologous vaccine protocol that uses the same modified live vaccine (or same killed vaccine) for both the initial and booster vaccinations.
Objectives
The objectives of this study are to:
- Compare the disease sparing effect of heterologous and homologous vaccine protocols in a controlled study using a challenge model that contains multiple respiratory viruses.
- Compare the effectiveness of the protocols in reducing BRD morbidity, mortality, and any effect on average daily gain in a large-scale field study.
Implications of the research
Vaccination strategies that allow us to get maximum effectiveness out of currently available vaccines could improve animal health and welfare by providing better immune protection. A lowered incidence or severity of BRD also reduces treatment costs and the need to use antibiotics.
This project is also supported by the Beef Cattle Research Council, Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, and Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund.