News

The poultry industry continues to innovate to provide the best possible protection for poultry health, one of which is through vaccination technology. A significant advancement in recent years has been the development of recombinant vaccines, particularly for hatchery vaccination applications. 

These vaccines utilize molecular biotechnology techniques to insert genetic codes (antigens) from other pathogenic viruses into a safe viral vector. This approach enables a single vaccination to confer immunity against multiple pathogens, thereby improving both time and cost efficiency. 

The advantages of recombinant vaccines include: 

• Safety and minimal side effects, as they contain only specific antigenic fragments and are unable to replicate within the host. 
• Absence of live pathogens reduces the risk of viral reversion to virulence.
• Suitability for vulnerable populations, due to the lack of live pathogenic agents. 

Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge the challenges associated with this technology. Recombinant vaccines may predominantly elicit a humoral immune response (antibody production) and do not always optimally stimulate cellular immunity. Their efficacy can also be compromised in cases where pre-existing immunity to the viral vector is present. Moreover, the limited duration of protection necessitates revaccination (boosters) with homologous vaccines to maintain high and stable antibody titers. 

Integrating innovations such as recombinant vaccines with hatchery vaccination can provide optimal protection from the earliest stages of poultry life. However, vaccination strategies must always be tailored to specific field conditions. Continuous monitoring of viral evolution, active surveillance, and careful selection of appropriate vaccination programs remain critical to ensuring effective disease control in poultry production.