Equine consumer dissatisfaction with the price of the African Horse Sickness vaccine continues to grow and family farmer body Saai has announced that they will take legal steps with regards to the unfair pricing practices around the AHS vaccine.
The Sporting Post reported on 6 September that the wildfire pricing is compromising the effectiveness of animal health management and increasing the risk of a severe outbreak which could destroy industries, including horseracing, upon which many people depend for their livelihoods.
After a petition garnered over 1500 signatures, Saai have ecided to fund the legal action and up the ante.
They advise that their action will centre around:
- The availability of AHS is a huge concern and horse owners require an urgent response from OBP as to the quantity of vaccines that has been produced for the 2022 season.
- Compared to other crucial animal vaccines the AHS vaccine is 36 to 55 times more expensive. This is price gouging- when a seller increases the prices of goods to a level much higher than what is considered reasonable or fair. The price of the AHS vaccine must be investigated by the Competition Commission. We are finalising the complaint.
- Farmers are not allowed to do AHS vaccinations themselves but need to get a veterinarian for that, apparently because of the need to maintain the cold chain. That doesn’t make sense as farmers are entrusted to keep the cold chain when vaccinating sheep and cattle and other livestock. As competent and able owners, breeders and trainers who are proven capable of administering other vaccines, they should be allowed to administer the AHS vaccine too.
