Bovilis Rotavec Corona is the UK market-leading calf scour vaccine and is used for the active immunisation of pregnant cows and heifers.
Cattle are vaccinated 12 to 3 weeks pre-calving to raise antibodies against rotavirus, coronavirus and Escherichia coli F5 (K99). Calves gain protection by drinking the fortified colostrum from their vaccinated mothers.
“Alongside the recent product license change allowing Bovilis Rotavec Corona to be administered more flexibly for up to 28 days after first opening [please refer to product label or SPC for further information] – which is already helping to reduce unnecessary wastage of the vaccine on farm – the new packaging means that both vets and farmers will also find the vaccine more convenient to use,” says product manager Rob Simpson from MSD Animal Health.
He explains that the vaccine product packaging is being transitioned from glass vials to polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a lightweight commercial plastic widely used for durably packaging pharmaceuticals. PET has a significantly smaller production, transportation and disposal carbon footprint compared to glass, requiring less energy to produce.
“From a safety point of view, PET does not break or fracture – and requires nearly seven times less material (by volume/weight) compared with glass – which means lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduced transportation costs,” adds Rob.
MSD Animal Health says that the packaging change applies to the 40ml, 20-dose pack with immediate effect, with a new 100ml, 50-dose PET pack available shortly.
The vaccine 10ml pack will move from glass vials to PET early in 2022.
