Registered attendees and exhibitors at the 2010 Iowa Pork Congress will be able to get vaccinated against the novel H1N1 influenza virus.
Arrangements for the free vaccinations were made by the Iowa Pork Producers Association through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the state veterinarian. The shots will be administered by the Iowa Department of Public Health during the two-day conference, Jan. 27-28, at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
"We're pleased to be able to offer these free vaccinations during the pork congress," said IPPA President John Vossberg, a pork producer from Janesville. "People don't always have time, or don’t make time to get the vaccinations. It's important because we still want to protect our pigs and keep the virus out of the Iowa swine herd."
Vossberg reinforced that the vaccinations are being provided to protect the livestock. “People who have the virus can easily transmit the illness to pigs and the industry does not want that to happen.”
Vaccinations will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 28. The vaccination clinic will set up in booth #100 on the south end of the trade show in Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center.
Vossberg said the free vaccinations give attendees another good reason to attend Pork Congress. "It's a great opportunity for attendees to get a lot done at one place. Whether it’s attending the great seminars, roaming the trade show, visiting with people in the pork industry, or getting an H1N1 shot."