UNIVAX-BD® is a live virus vaccine containing a carefully selected mild strain of bursal disease virus grown in chicken tissue culture and combined with stabilizing agents. The product is supplied as a lyophilized vaccine contained in vials sealed under vacuum.

Live Virus, Chicken Tissue Culture Origin of IBV

A freeze-dried pellet.

For vaccination of healthy chickens as an aid in the prevention of infectious bursal disease caused by standard and variant bursal disease viruses.

When to Vaccinate
Vaccinate 18 to 19 day old embryonated chicken eggs by the in ovo route using or subcutaneously at 1 day of age or by drinking water at 1 week or older. Use only healthy embryonated eggs in the in ovo route. Good management practices should be followed to reduce exposure of birds to virulent infectious bursal disease virus during the first several weeks of life.

Your Vaccination Program
The development of a durable, strong protection depends upon the use of an effective vaccination program as well as many circumstances such as administration techniques, environment and flock health at time of vaccination. Also, the immune response to one vaccination under field conditions is seldom complete for all animals within a given flock. Even when vaccination is successful, the protection stimulated in individual animals against different diseases may not be life long. Therefore, under certain circumstances revaccination may be necessary.

Preparation of the Vaccine
Subcutaneous Route of Administration

  3. Lift up top of seal on vaccine vial to expose rubber stopper. Using sterile needle and 5 or 10 ml syringe, remove a small amount (5 ml) of diluent from the diluent bottle and transfer this to the vaccine vial. Vacuum in the vaccine vial will readily pull in the diluent. Release the vacuum remaining in the vial.
  4. Vigorously shake vaccine vial with transferred diluent to rehydrate the vaccine.
  5. Using the same sterile needle and syringe completely transfer the rehydrated vaccine to the remaining diluent in the diluent bottle. Rinse syringe and vaccine vial by withdrawing additional diluent and repeating the process.
  6. Vigorously shake final rehydrated vaccine for 20-30 seconds to mix thoroughly.
  7. The vaccine is now ready for use.

Drinking Water Method

  4. Use cool, clean, non-chlorinated tap water to which powdered milk has been added as directed under How to Vaccinate.
  6. Reseat the stopper and shake the vial to thoroughly dissolve the vaccine.

How to Vaccinate
By Subcutaneous Route of Administration Insert a filling tube (large, sharpened transfer tube) into the bottle of vaccine. Connect the filling tube by means of rubber or plastic tubing to an automatic vaccinator fitted with a 22 gauge 1/2 inch needle.
The automatic vaccinator should be calibrated accurately ahead of time to deliver 0.2

Do not mix the vaccine into the drinking water until ready for use. Drinking water for vaccination should be mixed with powdered milk to prevent inactivation from chlorine or other water additives and also to stabilize the vaccine virus. The powdered milk should be added to the water at the rate of 3 grams per 11 liters (one heaped teaspoon per 3 U.S. gallons or 2.5 Imp. gallons); or 90 grams per 300 liters (one heaped cupful per 80 U.S. gallons or 66 Imp. gallons).
Withhold water for several hours before vaccinating so the birds are thirsty.
Thoroughly clean and rinse all watering containers so that no residual disinfectants remain. Dilute the vaccine immediately before use with cool, clean, non-chlorinated water (milk added). Pour the dissolved vaccine material into the water.
Distribute diluted vaccine so that all birds are able to drink within a 1 hour period and do not add any more water until the vaccine is consumed. Avoid placing water in direct sunlight.


  1. For Veterinary Use Only.
  2. For subcutaneous use only in day old birds. healthy embryonated chicken eggs.
    For use by drinking water in birds 1 week or older.
  4. Vaccinate only healthy birds. Although disease may not be evident, coccidiosis, chronic respiratory disease, mycoplasma infection, lymphoid leukosis, Marek’s disease, or other disease conditions may cause serious complications or reduce protection.
  6. Do not spill or splatter the vaccine. Use entire contents of vial when first opened.
    Burn empty bottles, caps and all unused vaccine and accessories.
  7. Wash hands thoroughly after using the vaccine.
  8. Do not dilute the vaccine or otherwise stretch the dosage.
  9. Store at 7°C (45°F).
  10. Do not vaccinate within 21 days before slaughter.
  11. Use only in states where permitted and on premises with a history of bursal disease.

Keep a record of vaccine type, quantity, serial number and expiration date; the date and time of vaccination; the number, age, breed, and location of the chickens; names of operators performing the vaccination and any observed reactions.