Tamil Nadu CM urges Centre to expedite FMD vaccine supply to the state

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin recently urged the Centre to expedite the supply of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine to the state to avert the outbreak of FMD among cattle and the consequent economic hardship to farmers.

Expressing concern over the staggered supply of the vaccine to the state, the chief minister sought the immediate intervention of Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, to speed up the supply.

“I would like to bring to your notice that there is an urgent requirement for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine in Tamil Nadu. As you are aware, the timely availability of vaccines is essential to maintain herd immunity among the susceptible cattle population and to prevent the occurrence of FMD and subsequent economic loss to the farmers,” Stalin said in a letter addressed to Rupala, a copy of which was made available to the media here.

Under the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for FMD rolled out in February 2020, 87.03 lakh head of cattle got vaccinated.

“Even during the previous round of vaccination in September 2021, the supply of vaccine doses was staggered. Tamil Nadu could complete the vaccination only in six months due to this staggered supply, which is not in line with the FMD vaccination protocol,” the chief minister said.

The next round of vaccination in Tamil Nadu was due in September 2022, but it could not be done for want of supplies.

Edits by EP News Bureau