World Veterinary Day was initiated by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000 to be celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. In 2008 the WVA and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) agreed on the creation of the World Veterinary Day Award aimed at rewarding the most successful celebration of the veterinary profession by national veterinary associations, alone, or in cooperation with any other selected veterinary body.
Celebrating the veterinary profession and vaccinations
Vaccines are very valuable tools to stop the spread of a large number of transmissible diseases that threaten the health and welfare of horses, other animals and people..
The winner of the 2013 Award will be announced at the opening ceremony of OIE 81st General Session to be held in Paris, France on 26 May 2013 and be invited to the World Veterinary Congress 17 - 20 September in Prague, Czech Republic where the prize will be awarded.
The selected theme for World Veterinary Day 2013 is "Vaccination to prevent and protect"
The discovery of disease prevention through vaccination is one of the greatest scientific achievements. Vaccines are very valuable tools to stop the spread of a large number of transmissible diseases that threaten the health and welfare of animals and people.
Vaccination of animals helps people to protect their livestock and their companion animals, as well as themselves in case of zoonotic diseases. Through well organised campaigns, vaccination contributes to the eradication of diseases from certain areas and even from the world.
A successful vaccination campaign depends mainly on the use of high quality vaccines, appropriate infrastructure to ensure the rapid and safe delivery of vaccines, monitoring of vaccinated flocks, movement control of animals, and adequate financial resources. The veterinary profession, through effective and efficient Veterinary Services, is crucial for the success of vaccination in animal health.