National COVID-19 Regulations: Impacts on Livestock Vaccinations, Veterinary Services, and Research Activities  In Nepal, Senegal, and Uganda

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to utilize data collected from Advancing women’s participation in livestock vaccine value chains in Nepal, Senegal and Uganda (Advance) during 2020-2021 to assess the impacts of COVID-19 safety measures on animal health, including livestock vaccinations, veterinary services, and livestock-related research activities in these countries.Methods: Country coordinators from each of three countries provided weekly reports to Principal Investigators on national COVID-19 regulations, beginning in May 2020. Interviews with country coordinators were conducted during spring 2021 via Zoom to provide additional contextual information regarding the impact of COVID-19 in each country. Information collected during interviews and through weekly reports was analyzed qualitatively to document a historic timeline of COVID-19 policy changes and associated impact on both human and animal health.Results: The main themes that were analyzed in weekly country reports and country coordinator interviews were compliance, politics, access to care, and agriculture. All three countries experienced similar trajectories, with small differences in reporting and spikes for COVID-19 cases and a COVID-19 vaccine rollout starting in the spring of 2021.Conclusions: Fluctuations in lockdown policies, employment, and travel restrictions created additional barriers to access of livestock vaccines, animal supplies, and veterinary services in all three countries. Livestock vaccine services were completely halted in some countries because of travel restrictions and disruptions in the supply chain created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Veterinary services were also limited as a result of travel restraints and market closures. Given the global dependence of rural livelihoods on livestock, additional research is needed to examine the near- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on livestock populations, especially women, and services including livelihoods, gender norms, veterinary services, and livestock-related research activities globally.