Dr David Sutton.

Firms deepen their association to promote best practice vaccination.

MSD Animal Health has become a Diamond Partner of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) to promote best practice vaccination.

The firm has been a committed sponsor of the WSAVA's Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) since its inception in 2006, and a long-standing supporter of the WSAVA's Continuing Education Committee (CEC).

Commenting on the appointment, WSAVA president Dr Shane Ryan said: “The WSAVA and the veterinary profession are indebted to MSD Animal Health for its generous and wholehearted support of our VGG and we are delighted the welcome the company as our new Diamond Partner.

“MSD Animal Health's recognition of the importance of evidence-based scientific information regarding companion animal vaccination, and its willingness to enable the VGG to work with academic independence has enabled the committee to make an outstanding contribution to the understanding of vaccination requirements and the practice of veterinary medicine globally.”

The WSAVA VGG provides evidence-based scientific advice to the global veterinary profession on optimum vaccination to promote best practice for cats and dogs.

Comprising experts from across the world, the group has already produced three editions of the WSAVA Global Guidelines on Vaccination for Veterinarians; two editions of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines for Pet Owners and Breeders; and Regional Guidelines for veterinary professional in Asia.

MSD Animal Health is also a Global Project Partner of the WSAVA One Health Committee, founded to ensure the prominence of the small companion animal-human interface in the global One Health agenda. Its members include veterinary surgeons and human doctors, together with representation from the OIE and CDC.

MSD's global technical director Dr David Sutton, said: “We sponsor the VGG because we believe there is a need for global guidelines to expand and improve the general knowledge and understanding of the immunological principles behind vaccination, as well as a need for independent expert guidance on the scientific evidence underpinning vaccination best practice.

“As regards Continuing Education, we recognize that providing high-quality and relevant CE to veterinarians with limited access to many of the existing resources is a key role for the WSAVA. However, we’re also keen to support the evolution of the CE program in order to develop other methods of delivery alongside the traditional face-to-face format. This will benefit a much larger audience and enable the most cost-effective use of resources moving forwards.”

Image (C) MSD Animal Health.