Importance of regular biannual foot-and-mouth disease vaccination for maintaining herd immunity in bovines

Abstract

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most economically important and highly contagious viral diseases affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and pigs. The disease results in severe economic losses due to decreased milk production, reduced draught efficiency, reproductive disorders, mortality in young animals, and restrictions on national and international livestock trade. In India, particularly in livestock-rich states such as Andhra Pradesh, effective prevention and control strategies are essential for sustaining dairy productivity and rural livelihoods. Regular biannual vaccination has emerged as the cornerstone of FMD control programs for maintaining adequate herd immunity among susceptible animal populations. Continuous vaccination at six-month intervals helps sustain protective antibody titres, minimizes disease outbreaks, and reduces virus circulation within the environment. This article highlights the importance of regular biannual FMD vaccination, the role of herd immunity in disease prevention, economic benefits of vaccination, challenges in implementation, and the contribution of veterinary services and diagnostic laboratories toward achieving long-term FMD control and eventual eradication.