Tick fever vaccine product information

Shelf life and storage

Chilled vaccine

Chilled vaccine is supplied ready to use. It is stored and transported at 2-8°C (do not freeze) and must be used within 4 days of manufacture.

Frozen vaccine

Combavac 3 in 1 is supplied as 2 components:

• frozen vaccine concentrate - containing the 3 vaccine organisms (B. bovis, B. bigemina and A. centrale)
• diluent - used to prepare the vaccine and provided in multi-dose plastic packs.

The vaccine concentrate is stored in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) and has a shelf life of 5 years from date of manufacture. The diluent is stored refrigerated (2-8°C) and has a shelf life of 2 years from date of manufacture.

The vaccine concentrate is thawed and then syringed into a diluent pack to provide vaccine ready for use. The prepared frozen vaccine must be kept cool (less than 20°C), stored out of sunlight and used within 8 hours after preparation.

Dosage and administration

Using a vaccinator gun, inject a single 2mL dose either subcutaneously (under the skin) or intramuscularly (into the muscle).

Find out how to calibrate a vaccinator gun (PDF, 151KB).

Withholding period and export slaughter interval (ESI)

Nil.

Animals' response to vaccination

Animals undergo mild reactions as the immune system is stimulated to produce long-term (usually lifelong) protection against the disease.

Development of immunity

• 3-4 weeks after vaccination for both species of Babesia
• 8 weeks after vaccination for Anaplasma

Recommendations for use

Cattle of any age can be vaccinated, but it is best to vaccinate animals at 3-9 months of age when there is little risk of reactions to the vaccine.

The risk of reactions is greater when vaccinating adult cattle (especially bulls and pregnant cows) and they should be closely observed during reaction periods.

Directions for use

An instruction leaflet is provided with each order of chilled or frozen Combavac 3 in 1 vaccine.

First aid and safety directions

The strains of tick fever used in Australian tick fever vaccines are not known to infect humans.

However, you should seek medical advice following accidental self-injection because there is risk of an inflammatory response.

The following people are at an increased risk of an inflammatory response:

• the elderly
• people with weakened immune systems (e.g. due to diseases such as leukaemia or lymphoma, or through drugs and radiation, or HIV or AIDS sufferers)
• people whose spleen has been removed.

Material safety data sheets (MSDS)

• Chilled tick fever vaccine MSDS (PDF, 95KB)
• Frozen tick fever vaccine concentrate MSDS (PDF, 104KB)
• Frozen tick fever vaccine diluent MSDS (PDF, 85KB)

Technical specifications

The following specifications contain detailed technical descriptions of the vaccines, production methods and quality control testing procedures:

• Trivalent (chilled) tick fever vaccine technical specifications (PDF, 197KB)
• Frozen tick fever vaccine technical specifications (PDF, 148KB).

Also consider...

• Learn more about ordering tick fever vaccine.
• Learn more about managing tick fever in cattle.