CLIVE — Registered attendees and exhibitors at the 2010 Iowa Pork Congress will be able to get vaccinated against the Novel H1N1 Influenza Virus that surfaced in the U.S. last spring and continues as a serious health threat to Iowans.
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 in Des Moines Jan. 27 and 28.
"We're pleased to be able to offer these free vaccinations at Pork Congress," said IPPA President John Vossberg, a pork producer from Janesville. "People don't always have time or make time to get the shots and it's important because we still want to protect our pigs and keep the virus out of the Iowa swine herd."
Vossberg emphasizes that the shots are being provided to protect the livestock because people who have the virus can easily transmit the illness to pigs and the industry does not want that to happen.
The shots will be available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 27 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 28 in booth #100 on the south end of the tradeshow floor at Hy-Vee Hall in the Iowa Events Center.
Vossberg says 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 its' attending the great seminars, roaming the tradeshow, visiting with people in the pork industry, or getting an H1N1 shot," he said.
