Dr David Sutton
MSD Animal Health Promotes Best Practice Vaccination And CE Globally As New WSAVA Diamond Partner
4 years ago 
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MSD Animal Health has deepened its long-standing relationship with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), becoming a Diamond Partner of the association. The company, which has been a committed sponsor of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) since its inception in 2006, is also a longstanding supporter of the WSAVA’s Continuing Education Committee (CEC).
The WSAVA VGG comprises a team of experts from around the world focused on providing evidence-based scientific advice to the global veterinary profession on optimum vaccination practice for dogs and cats. As part of its work to promote best practice in vaccination, it has produced:
· Three editions of the WSAVA Global Guidelines on Vaccination for Veterinarians
· Two editions of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines for Pet Owners and Breeders
· Regional Guidelines for veterinarians in Asia, together with soon-to-be launched Guidelines for veterinarians in Latin America.
While some of the face-to-face meetings it had planned for 2020 have been postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, VGG Committee members will instead be creating online CE modules on the principles of immunology and vaccination best practice. A full review of the WSAVA Global Guidelines is also planned.
The WSAVA CEC provides world-class CE in regions that struggle to fund their own. It also supports regional veterinary associations in establishing their own CE programs. While much WSAVA CE is carried out face-to-face, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic many of these programs have been postponed. Instead, the CEC is also investing in the development of online CE modules across a range a regionally-relevant topics to ensure that, wherever they are in practice, all WSAVA member veterinarians have access to the latest CE.
MSD Animal Health is also a Global Project Partner of the WSAVA One Health Committee. This Committee was founded to ensure the prominence of the small companion animal-human interface in the global One Health agenda. Its members include veterinarians and human doctors, together with representation from the OIE and CDC.
Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals, MSD Animal Health offers one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions, preserving and improving the health and wellbeing of animals and the people who care for them.
Commenting on its support for the WSAVA, Dr David Sutton, Global Technical Director at MSD Animal Health, 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.”
Dr Shane Ryan, WSAVA President, 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.
“Providing high-quality postgraduate continuing education for veterinarians in regions where it may be difficult to access is also a core focus for the WSAVA. MSD’s support of our Continuing Education Committee will help us to deliver on our ambitious global goals for 2020. Thank you MSD Animal Health.”
The WSAVA represents more than 200,000 veterinarians worldwide through its 113 member associations and works to enhance standards of clinical care for companion animals. Its core activities include the development of WSAVA Global Guidelines in key areas of veterinary practice, including pain management, nutrition and vaccination, together with lobbying on important issues affecting companion animal care worldwide.
About MSD Animal Health
For more than a century, MSD, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of MSD. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets.
For further information, please contact:
Rebecca George, George PR
Tel: 01449 737281/07974 161108 Email: [email protected]
Date of issue: May 1, 2020
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