Paju City to Conduct Mass Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccination for Cattle and Goats Throughout September

Mass Vaccination for Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease
Free Vaccines for Small Farms, Subsidies for Large-Scale Operations
Strict Penalties for Non-Compliance with Vaccination and Biosecurity Measures

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on August 27 that it will conduct a mass vaccination campaign for foot-and-mouth disease prevention from September 1 to September 30.

Paju City, Mass Vaccination of Cattle and Goats for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Conducted Throughout September Leaflet. Provided by Paju City

The vaccination targets approximately 32,000 cattle and goats across 494 farms. During this period, small-scale farms raising fewer than 50 cattle or fewer than 300 goats will receive the vaccine free of charge. Commercial-scale farms raising 50 or more cattle can purchase the vaccine through the Paju-Yeoncheon Livestock Cooperative and will be eligible for a 70% subsidy on the purchase cost.

Paju City stated that, in order to prevent missed vaccinations and improve efficiency, nine public veterinarians will be mobilized to assist with the vaccinations. The city will also provide vaccine adjuvants to minimize stress on the livestock, making every effort to ensure successful vaccination.

Additionally, starting four weeks after the vaccination period, inspections will be carried out to verify compliance. Farms where the antibody positivity rate is found to be low (below 80% for cattle and below 60% for goats) will be subject to fines ranging from 5 million to 10 million won and will be excluded from preventive medicine support programs, among other penalties.

Furthermore, alongside this mass foot-and-mouth disease vaccination, the city will also administer lumpy skin disease vaccinations for animals that were deferred during the April campaign and for newborn calves.

Lee Gwangjae, head of the Animal Management Division, emphasized, "Both foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease are highly contagious livestock diseases that can cause significant damage to the livestock industry. Vaccination is the most reliable and important means of prevention. We urge all farms to complete the vaccination within the designated period and to thoroughly follow biosecurity measures, such as farm disinfection and restricting access by outsiders and vehicles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.