Sale of rabies vaccine discussed

AUGUSTA – Besides being a state representative, Wendy Pieh of Bremen raises cashmere goats. Testifying before the Legislature’s Agriculture Committee this week, Pieh asked for the right to buy rabies vaccine for her animals.

“The problem is expense,” she said. “It costs me $8 per vaccination with my local vet, and at 50 goats, I can’t afford it.

“If I can buy the vaccine directly, it costs me a maximum of $2, and I can’t afford not to do it,” she said. ” I don’t need to have my animals certified as being inoculated. I just need them inoculated in order to prevent the spread of rabies.”

Pieh said the issue is public safety.

“Rabies has recently reached an epidemic level in the state of Maine, and is rapidly spreading throughout the Northeast,” the representative said. “Domestic animals’ incidents of rabies have increased in the last year, 12.5 percent in sheep, 16.4 percent in cattle and a whopping 200 percent in swine.”

Pieh was joined by several dozen farmers, some who told the committee they are paying up to $100 for a farm visit to administer a $2 vaccine. The farmers said they were familiar with giving the vaccinations, as they administer all other medications to their livestock.

Pieh’s measure to allow farmers to purchase rabies’ vaccine, LD 1426, is heavily opposed, however, by veterinarians and the Maine Department of Agriculture.

Shelley Doak of the Agriculture Department said, “While I support increasing vaccinations for any preventable diseases, rabies included, I am gravely concerned about the potential misuse of the rabies vaccine and the public health and public trust implications.”

Doak said that an improperly vaccinated animal could be assumed to be immune, thereby providing a false sense of security for those handling the animal, including veterinarians or future owners.

“Record keeping for the lay public would be hit-or-miss,” the agriculture official said. “In addition, public trust is instilled knowing a licensed veterinarian has vaccinated an animal against rabies.”

Also testifying in support of the bill was Jon Olson of the Maine Farm Bureau. “This could eliminate some costs for the farmer and be a preventative measure for the farm family,” said Olson.

Sarah Brooks of Nashville Plantation agreed. Brooks operates Northwood Saddle Expeditions and has 20 horses.

“Out my back door, there are 88 miles of woods, stretching to the Canadian border,” she said. Because of the high numbers of rabid raccoons and bats, Brooks said she, her animals and her customers are at risk.

A work session on the bill is set for 9 a.m. Friday, April 13.