January 17, 2022

Philippines' agriculture officials highlight importance of vaccines for poultry

Chickens need vaccines to protect them from poultry diseases, the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) said.

Narciso Edillo, DA Region 2 executive director, said through the DA Regional Field Office 2 Livestock Program, vaccines that drugs and biologics were given to the Claveria Poultry Raisers Association (CPRA).

Dr. Bryan Sibayan, DA Regional Livestock Program head, said vaccination plays a crucial role in the management of the health of the poultry flock.

"Vaccination can prevent a number of poultry diseases," Sibayan said, explaining that it is a process in which the healthy chickens are infected in a controlled way with a dead or weakened pathogen.

"After the vaccination, the immune system of the bird will respond to the vaccine by activating an army of cells designed to attack and destroy the invaders before they cause damage to the bird. After the attack, several specialised immune system cells remain called memory cells," Sibayan said.

He said this is a preemptive measure for the prevention of various poultry diseases.

Roland Viloria, CPRA president, expressed gratitude to the DA Region 2, saying that it was in urgent need of vaccines, drugs, and biologics to keep chickens there healthy and free from disease.

- The Manila Times