Communication to Farmers via Veterinarians

Relating to Scabine® Batches 132SL2, 132SL3 & 135SL2

MSD Animal Health has provided us with additional information and updates regarding their ongoing investigation regarding SCABINE batches 132SL2, 132SL3 & 135SL2. Following you will find a number of questions that may apply to your farm. If you have any specific questions, please contact your local veterinarian.

Question 1 – What does this update mean for my farm?

Answer – If lambs have been assessed at the appropriate time post vaccination and were deemed to have an immune response consistent with ordinary expectations, there is no need to revaccinate. Unfortunately, it is impossible to accurately assess the response rate if lambs were not checked at the appropriate time after vaccination. Accordingly, in situations such as this MSD AH recommends that you re-vaccinate.

Question 2 – Can you supply me product to retreat my lambs now?

Answer – MSD AH has and continues to provide replacement product, free of charge, for immediate revaccination. Unfortunately, the amount of product is limited. Once replacement product is no longer available, MSD AH will issue credit to the extent that farmers did not obtain an adequate immune response with the relevant batches of Scabine. MSD will also issue credit if passage of time precludes a determination as to immune response.

Question 3 – Who pays for the vaccine?

Answer – MSD AH is providing the replacement vaccine free of charge.

Questions 4 – What about the labour costs associated with revaccinating??

Answer – MSD AH has committed to reimburse all reasonable costs of revaccination of affected lambs up to $0.50 per lamb where the only process undertaken is revaccination and $0.15 per lamb where revaccination is part of another process (weaning drench, etc.). MSD will be providing a form for to submit for reimbursement of labour costs which we will forward to you once available.

Question 5 – What if I choose not to revaccinate?

Answer – MSD AH recommends that all lambs with either less than expected immune response rate, or lambs that were vaccinated with one of these batches but the response rate was not checked post vaccination, should be revaccinated. If you do not revaccinate the affected lambs, this is at your own risk.

Question 6 – What guarantee is there that this won’t happen next year?

Answer - MSD AH has assured us that all endeavours are being and will be made to ensure that this problem will not occur again in the future.

Question 7 – How can I be assured that there aren’t similar issues with other MSD AH vaccines?

Answer – Scabine is a unique product manufactured in a plant separate from all other MSD AH products. As such, the current challenges with Scabine are not reflective of the quality and performance of other MSD AH products.