What Practicing Veterinarians Should Know About FMD Vaccination in India

Vaccination remains the backbone of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) control in India. With millions of susceptible livestock spread across diverse geographical regions, field veterinarians play the most important role in maintaining herd immunity and reducing economic losses caused by FMD¹. 

India currently uses trivalent inactivated FMD vaccines containing serotypes O, A, and Asia1. Earlier, quadrivalent vaccines including serotype C were used, but serotype C has not been reported in India since 1995¹. 

For veterinarians involved in field vaccination programs, understanding practical vaccination challenges is extremely important. 

Why FMD Vaccination Matters So Much 

FMD causes major economic losses due to: 

• Severe reduction in milk production 

• Decreased feed intake 

• Lameness 

• Treatment expenses 

• Secondary bacterial infections¹ 

Milk loss during outbreaks can be extremely high, severely affecting dairy farmers¹. 

India has one of the world’s largest livestock populations, including: 

• Cattle 

• Buffaloes 

• Sheep 

• Goats 

• Pigs 

• Yaks 

• Mithuns¹ 

Mass vaccination is therefore essential to reduce viral circulation and protect livestock productivity. 

How FMD Vaccination Is Monitored 

Under the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMDCP), vaccination is carried out at six-month intervals¹. 

To evaluate immune response: 

• Serum samples are collected before vaccination 

• Second samples are collected 21–30 days later 

• Antibody levels are monitored¹ 

This helps assess whether vaccinated animals are developing adequate protective immunity. 

Why Vaccine Failure Can Happen in the Field 

Outbreaks in vaccinated animals remain one of the most difficult situations for veterinarians. 

Several field-level factors can contribute: 

• Improper cold-chain maintenance 

• Delayed booster vaccination 

• Incomplete coverage 

• Viral mutation 

• Poor nutritional status 

• Parasitic infestation 

• Persistent infections² 

FMD virus undergoes continuous genetic changes because it is an RNA virus1. In some situations, antibodies generated after vaccination may not completely neutralize circulating strains. 

Cold Chain: One of the Most Important Field Responsibilities 

Maintaining vaccine potency is essential during vaccination drives. 

Field veterinarians should pay close attention to: 

• Vaccine storage temperature 

• Transportation conditions 

• Prolonged exposure outside iceboxes 

• Handling during village-level campaigns 

Improper storage can reduce vaccine effectiveness even before administration¹. 

In remote field conditions, maintaining uninterrupted cold chain remains one of the biggest operational challenges. 

Why Some Villages Continue to Report Outbreaks 

Even with large vaccination programs, outbreaks can continue because: 

• Some animals remain unvaccinated 

• Migratory livestock move between regions 

• Outbreak reporting may be delayed³ 

Carrier animals may also silently maintain infection within populations¹. 

This is why veterinarians should never rely only on vaccination numbers. Continuous surveillance and field awareness remain equally important. 

Practical Advice for Veterinarians During Vaccination Drives 

During FMD vaccination campaigns: 

• Ensure proper animal identification 

• Maintain vaccination records 

• Avoid skipping booster schedules 

• Educate farmers regarding biannual vaccination 

• Immediately investigate suspected outbreaks 

Veterinarians should also explain to farmers that vaccinated animals may still develop milder disease during heavy exposure situations, but vaccination greatly reduces severity and transmission risk³. 

Moving Toward Better FMD Control 

India has significantly expanded its FMD control efforts over the years through mass vaccination, surveillance, laboratory support, and outbreak monitoring¹. 

For practicing veterinarians, the success of FMD control depends heavily on: 

• Vaccine handling 

• Field monitoring 

• Rapid diagnosis 

• Farmer cooperation 

• Continuous awareness programs 

Strong field-level implementation remains the key to reducing FMD transmission in Indian livestock populations. 

References 

1. Audarya SD. Foot-and-mouth disease in India: past, present and future outlook-a review. IntechOpen; 2020 Sep 14. https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/73107 

2. Arzt J, Belsham GJ, Lohse L, Bøtner A, Stenfeldt C. Transmission of foot-and-mouth disease from persistently infected carrier cattle to naive cattle via transfer of oropharyngeal fluid. Msphere. 2018 Oct 31;3(5):10-128. https://journals.asm.org/doi/pdf/10.1128/msphere.00365-18 

3. Verma AK, Tripathi AK, Neha N. Investigation of FMD outbreak in district Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, India. Int J Livest Res. 2017;7(4):113-8.  https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amit-Verma-20/publication/316356043_Investigation_of_FMD_Outbreak_in_District_Bulandsahar_Uttar_Pradesh_India/links/591d74630f7e9b6428179aac/Investigation-of-FMD-Outbreak-in-District-Bulandsahar-Uttar-Pradesh-India.pdf