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Egg industry exec says vaccine is needed

The president of one of the nation’s largest egg producers, Rembrandt Foods, says the egg industry is eager to use a new avian influenza vaccine.

Speaking at a news conference during the Iowa State Fair, Dave Rettig said he hopes USDA approves use of the vaccine.

“We would like to be allowed to use it. We need to be allowed to use it to get ourselves back to work,” Rettig said. “Allowing us to use the vaccine, which I understand is ready to go, will put Iowans back to work, improve our economy, and lower the cost to U.S. consumers and the federal government by billions and billions of dollars.”

Other countries would likely stop importing U.S. eggs if vaccine use is approved, but Rettig said only three percent of eggs are exported anyway.

“At least for the egg industry, we’re not worried about exports,” he said. “I think the broiler industry is concerned about exports. But here in Iowa, it’s a lot about eggs and turkeys.”

Iowa governor Terry Branstad said the sooner the vaccine is approved for use, the better.

“I think the big concern is to get it released—to be able to use it instead of waiting for another outbreak,” Branstand said. “Will it be made available to the producers in a timely way? We want to make sure that happens.”

USDA announced this week that it plans to stockpile a vaccine, but has not yet decided whether to allow its use.

AUDIO: Excerpts from news conference–Governor Terry Branstad and Rembrandt Foods president Dave Rettig