Vaccination prevents disease, while treatment cures disease. Understanding this helps farmers use vaccines and medicines in the correct way. Healthy animals are vaccinated to protect them from diseases which make them sick and can cause their death.
Sick animals are treated with medicine which kills the disease-causing organism and helps the animal overcome the illness. The fact that an animal has been treated for a disease does not mean that it cannot get the disease again. Vaccination will not cure a sick animal of the disease affecting it.
It’s important to carefully read the instructions which come with the medicine and the vaccine. Some vaccines and medicines should not be given to pregnant animals. When in doubt, speak to your state vet or animal health technician.
Source: Department of Agriculture, Directorate of Communication, in co-operation with ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute. Illustrations by CD Seegers.
