Latest On Vaccination Protocols

[Do No Harm]

Many on this forum will be aware of an excellent article about vaccinations that appeared on page 19 in the July edition of the National Dog magazine. Some on this forum will also be aware that the Sydney Morning Herald last weekend ran an article on page 3 alerting a wider section of pet owners to the contentious nature of 'booster' vaccinations. What most here may not know is how the AVA responded! The AVA responded by sending out a 'Member Alert' which quickly became available to anyone with Internet access. It can be seen here http://ava.informz.net/ava/archives/archive_135431.html If anyone wants to read it, be quick because it may soon become 'unavailable'! Note the date of the Member alert and date of the article - interesting?

Edited August 9, 2009 by Do No Harm

[WreckitWhippet]

If it does happen to go poof, I've got a copy saved for later

 Because of maternally derived antibody and the variability in its level and duration between

individuals, vaccines should ideally be administered two to three times to puppies and kittens,

with timing of the final dose being variable but not earlier than the age of 16 weeks (the

suggested age varies with the manufacturer and the vaccine). If cost is an issue and only one

vaccine is possible, it should be at the age of 16 weeks or older.

 A booster vaccine should be administered approximately 12 months later.

What a cop out, if they know the function of marternal antibodies, why in the hell are they not adopting a protocol that suggests vaccinating once at the 16 weeks or twice, with the first being 8 weeks plus and the second one month later

Edited August 9, 2009 by SBT123

[Trisven13]

Out of interest does anyone know what the protocol should be for adult rescue dogs with an unknown vaccination history?

Should they have one vaccination, a second 12 months later and THEN follow the 3-yearly routine or is it one vaccination and then the 3-yearly routine?

[WreckitWhippet]

This is purely my own thoughts on an adult rescue. Vaccinate when they come into care and then advise the adopter that they can either continue to vaccinate in the traditional way each year or go with three yearly.

When I rehome any older dogs, I explain to the person who is taking them, how they have been vaccinated whilst in my care and why I have done it that way. I will if the new owner wants it, vaccinate any dog whose vaccination would not be considered current under the old protocol.

[Do No Harm]

Out of interest does anyone know what the protocol should be for adult rescue dogs with an unknown vaccination history?

[stormie]

The current protocol for adults with an unknown history is that they just need one dose of a DHP, so I would guess this would still be the same.

This is fantastic, and just what we needed to support us in our soon to be decision to follow a 3yr protocol with the current annual vaccines, in our new clinic.

YAY!!

eta: the date was very interested. My boss only received an email from them after that article in the Herald, so was just last week. And he said the one he read said that they were still making up their minds... but he's getting old so maybe he misread it

Edited August 9, 2009 by stormie

[Do No Harm]

Out of interest does anyone know what the protocol should be for adult rescue dogs with an unknown vaccination history?

If a rescued dog has been a stray then it has very probably been exposed to whatever any dogs lacking immunity are vulnerable to contracting. Therefore, it is almost certainly already immune! What is the purpose of vaccinating other than to render immune a dog which is not immune? Vaccination is not an unnocuous procedure! By vaccinating an immune dog one over-stimulates the immune system unnecessarily. There is no benefit and there is a certain risk. If in doubt one can do a titer test (and do study the research for unterpretation of results). The vaccination article in the National Dog is a summary of a longer, meticulously researched paper with very detailed references. It is available online at http://users.on.net/~peter.hart/Is%20over-...0our%20pets.pdf While the paper is long, I do encourage everyone on this forum to at least check the reference sources. They cannot be disputed and come from veterinary research scientists and not clinical veterinarians who have a vested interest in 'pushing' more vaccination than is necessary for immunity. The AVA's recently ratified new vaccination guidleines are unfortunately only now being distributed to its members. I have a copy of those guidelines which I am happy to share with anyone who is interested. I am though new to this 'forum participation' exercise, but if anyone knows how to contact me I'll respond by sending them a copy of the AVA's June 2009 Policy on Vaccination of Dogs and Cats.

[Erny]

I'm interested DNH and have PM'd you with my email address if you wouldn't mind sending through a copy of the new AVA vaccination guidelines to me?

Thanks

Erny

[LizT]

The current protocol for adults with an unknown history is that they just need one dose of a DHP, so I would guess this would still be the same.

This is fantastic, and just what we needed to support us in our soon to be decision to follow a 3yr protocol with the current annual vaccines, in our new clinic.

YAY!!

eta: the date was very interested. My boss only received an email from them after that article in the Herald, so was just last week. And he said the one he read said that they were still making up their minds... but he's getting old so maybe he misread it

What's your definition of "getting old" ?? LOL

[stormie]

Whats the difference between the guidelines you have. DNH, and the link to the PDF Guidelines in the letter from the AVA just posted?

[Do No Harm]

I'm interested DNH and have PM'd you with my email address if you wouldn't mind sending through a copy of the new AVA vaccination guidelines to me?

Thanks

Erny

I haven't receive anything, and don't know how to access if something is sent through this (DOL) site. An alternative is to contact through our website http://www.freewebs.com/novaxx/ There's a 'Contact Us' at near the foot of first page.

[Do No Harm]

Whats the difference between the guidelines you have. DNH, and the link to the PDF Guidelines in the letter from the AVA just posted?

Thanks for this, Stormy. There is no difference! I've just checked the link and it (still) works. I would expect though that the AVA will not tolerate it's Member Alert letter being available online to anyone with Internet access, so once they find out it's likely to be removed. I have been told by one source which is monitoring this issue that the AVA - particularly the ASAVA, is very unhappy about the changes from annual boosters so I think we all need to scrutinise what vets tell us. Many don't seem very well informed. Only two months ago when I consulted a vet and told him my dog's history (which included clinical signs of distemper following a C3 booster). He stressed that “modified live (viruses)” as used in vaccines are KILLED (viruses). Yep, I tried to explain but he was insistent – until he took a vial of vaccine from his fridge and checked the label. Oh well, one can always laugh!

Edited August 10, 2009 by Do No Harm