Antibiotic Amnesty Campaign 2023
The veterinary profession is coming together again this November to hold an Antibiotic Amnesty. The aim is to encourage clients to return any unused or out of date antibiotics. This will allow correct and safe disposal of the antibiotic medications, which will avoid contamination of the environment and help prevent antimicrobial resistance due to inappropriate disposal.
What is the issue?
Antibiotics are essential to treat many conditions in both humans and animals. But they must be used carefully, to ensure they are effective when patients really need them.
If not used responsibly, antibiotics lead to dangerous side effects, delay an accurate diagnosis, and contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Inappropriate disposal of unused antibiotics also damages the environment, impacting water quality and wildlife.
Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest global health issues of our time. We must act, together.
What can you do in your vet practice?
- Talk about the Antibiotic Amnesty with your practice team and share the information in the resources available below.
- Have conversations with clients about antimicrobial resistance and the risks of not using antimicrobials responsibly and encourage the return of any unused antibiotics.
- Contact owners who have had antibiotics dispensed in recent months to tell them about the amnesty and prompt them to return any unused antibiotics – especially if they are due in again soon.
- Display the poster/s below in your waiting room.
- Share the resources below on your practice social media channels and website.
- Add stickers to packets of tablets or prescription bags.
- Modify vaccination booster reminders to include a mention of this initiative.
- Include details of the amnesty in client newsletters during November.
After the Antibiotic Amnesty
- Record the number of conversations had with clients about returning antibiotics – not only the number but also any useful feedback.
- Record the number of antibiotics returned to your practice during November.
- Feedback this number to the Amnesty partners via this link
Please use this hashtag for the campaign activity across your social channels
#AntibioticAmnesty
Campaign Toolkit and Resources for practices
Posters for vet teams
Amnesty Poster – Equine
Amnesty Poster – Small Animal
Non-branded-Antibiotics-poster
Social Media Graphics & Videos
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'We're Taking Part' mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - Get Prepared 1
Antibiotic Amnesty - Get Prepared 2
Antibiotic Amnesty 2023 mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'We're Taking Part' 2 mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'Download Your Toolkit' mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'Download Your Toolkit' 2 mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - Equine 1 mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - Equine 2
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'We're Taking Part' 2 mp4.
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'We're Taking Part' Image
Antibiotic Amnesty - 'We're Taking Part' 2 Image
Client Quiz Graphic 1
Client Quiz Graphic 2
Client Quiz Graphic 3
Client Quiz Graphic 4
Client Quiz Graphic 5
Social Media Post Content
Summary documents for vet teams
Guidance for Practices FINAL
Short Guidance for practices
Summary document to give to clients
Amnesty client information sheet
Article for practice newsletters
Antibiotic amnesty copy for practice newsletters and social media
Antibiotic amnesty animations
Antibiotic Amnesty
Antibiotic Amnesty - Equine
Antibiotic amnesty video
A One Health Approach for tackling AMR
Our colleagues in human healthcare are also involved in the Antibiotic Amnesty. Pharmacies across the UK are being encouraged to take part.
Could YOU reach out to make sure that this is a One Health campaign involving human and animal health?
For more information visit: Antibiotic Amnesty (rpharms.com)