The Pet Wellness Update
Dedicated to Rabies Medical Exemption Nationwide
The Science
The scientific evidence for the reduction or elimination of most animal vaccines is far-reaching and concrete. It is summed up in three words: few, seldom or never.
Canine Coronavirus vaccinations for adult dogs
1. Dogs over eight weeks of age are not susceptible to canine corona virus disease. Canine corona virus has never been demonstrated to cause disease in adult dogs.
2. The argument that dogs that develop parvovirus enteritis concurrently with corona virus infection will develop worse symptoms than a dog that develops parvovirus alone is without merit. If dogs over eight weeks of age are immunized against canine parvovirus they will not develop symptoms of canine corona virus disease. Addition of an unnecessary antigen to the vaccine will result in increased risk of adverse reactions.
3. Immunologists doubt that Canine Coronavirus vaccine works, as it would require secretory mucosal IgA antibodies to protect against coronavirus infection and a parenteral vaccine does not accomplish this very well.
4. The American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and Twenty-two Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Texas A&M University do not recommend canine coronavirus vaccine.
5. Gastroenterologists at Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Dr Michael Willard at Texas A&M University have stated that they have only seen one case of corona virus disease in a dog in ten years.
6. On at least one occasion large numbers of dogs have died from adverse reactions to corona virus vaccine.
References: Dogs over 8 weeks of age do not develop disease from canine corona virus.
1. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
2. Paul, Michael A., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
3. Schultz, Ronald D., “Are we vaccinating too much?” JAVMA, No.4, August 15, 1995, pg. 421.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg. 251.
5. Klingborg, Hustead, Curry Galvan, AVMA Council On Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002.
6. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
7. Ford, Richard B, Vaccines and Vaccinations, The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Volume 31, No 3, May 2001 8. Wilson RB, Holladay JA, Cave JS, A Neurologic Syndrome Associated with the Use of Canine Corona virus-Parvovirus Vaccine in Dogs, compendium on CE, 8,1986, 117-124.
Administering and charging for re-administration of modified live vaccines like Canine Distemper, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Panleukopenia, injectable Feline Rhinotracheitis and injectable Feline Calicivirus on an semi-annual, annual or bi-annual basis is unnecessary
1. The American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents has advised the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics that there is no scientific data to support label claims for annual re-administration of modified live vaccines and label claims should be backed by scientific data.
2. It is the consensus of immunologists that a modified live virus vaccine must replicate in order to stimulate the immune system. With repeat administration of MLV vaccine antibodies from a previous vaccination will block the replication of the new vaccinate virus. The immune status of the patient is not enhanced in any way. There is no benefit to the patient. The patient is being exposed to unnecessary risk of an adverse reaction.
3. A temporal association has been demonstrated between vaccinations and the development of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.
4. It has been demonstrated that the duration of immunity for Canine Distemper virus is 7 years by challenge, and 15 years by serology; for Canine Parvovirus is 7 years by challenge, for Feline Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus is 7.5 years by challenge.
References:
1. Hogenen Esch Harm, Dunham Anisa D, Scott-Moncrieff Catharine, Glickman Larry, DeBoer Douglas J, Effect of vaccination on serum concentrations of total and antigen-specific immunoglobulin E in dogs, AJVR, Vol 63, No. 4, April 2002, pgs. 611-616.
2. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-What’s right? What’s not? Compendium on Continuing Education, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32.
3. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Are we vaccinating too much?” JAVMA, No. 4, August 15, 1995, pg. 421.
5. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg. 243.
6. Schultz, Ronald D, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and What We Don’t Know, Proceedings – Canine Infectious Diseases: From Clinics to Molecular Pathogenesis, Ithaca, NY, 1999, 22.
7. Schultz, Ronald D, The Vaccine Controversy: What Vaccines Do Cats and Dogs Really Need and How Often Do They Need To Be Vaccinated? Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
8. Larson L J, Sawchuck S, Bonds M D, Schultz RD, Comparison of Antibody Titers Among Dogs Vaccinated, One, Two, Three Years Previously, Proceedings of 80th Meeting of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, CRWD, Chicago, IL, 1999. 9. Gorham, J.R., “Duration of vaccination immunity and the influence on subsequent prophylaxis” JAVMA 149:699-704; 1966
9. Phillips, Tom R. and Schultz, Ronald D, “Canine and Feline vaccines”, Current Veterinary Therapy XI, ed. Kirk and Bonagura, pg. 202, 205, WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia, PA 1992.
10. Klingborg Donald, Principles of Vaccination, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, Policy on Biologics, April 2002
11. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
12. Ford, Richard B, Vaccines and Vaccinations, The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Volume 31, No 3, May 2001 13. Tizard Ian, Use of serologic testing to assess immune status of companion animals, JAVMA,Vol 213, No 1, July 1, 1998.
14. Scott FW, Cordell MG, Long – term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine, AJVR, May 1999, Vol. 60, No. 5.
15. Lappin MR, Andrews J, Simpson D, Jensen W, Use of Serologic Tests to Predict Resistance to Feline Herpes virus 1, Feline Calcivirus, and Feline Parvovirus Infection in Cats, JAVMA, 220[1]: 38-42 Jan 1, 2002
Annual rabies vaccination for dogs with a three-year duration of immunity vaccine and one-year duration of immunity vaccine for cats is unnecessary.
1. Rabies vaccine has been licensed by the USDA as a three- year vaccine. Rabies vaccine has been proven to have a minimum duration of immunity of three years by challenge to the USDA, seven years by serology by Dr Ron Schultz, and four years for cats and five years for dogs by challenge by Aubert.
2. Beyond the second vaccination, no data exist to demonstrate that the immune status of the pet is enhanced. Data shows that the immune status of the pet is degraded.
3. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians recommendation is for vaccination of dogs and cats for rabies at four months, one year later and then every three years subsequently. This recommendation has been adopted in 33 States in the United States.
4. The Texas Department of Public Health adopted a new tri-annual policy effective in March 2003.
References:
1. The Texas Department of Public Health, White Paper on Options for rabies vaccinations.
2. HogenenEsch Harm, Dunham Anisa D, Scott-Moncrieff Catharine, Glickman Larry, DeBoer Douglas J, Effect of vaccination on serum concentrations of total and antigen-specific immunoglobulin E in dogs, AJVR, Vol. 63, No. 4, April 2002, pg 611-616.
3. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-What’s right? What’s not? Compendium on Continuing Education, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32.
4. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001.
5. Schultz, Ronald D, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and What We Don’t Know, Proceedings – Canine Infectious Diseases: From Clinics to Molecular Pathogenesis, Ithaca, NY, 1999, 22.
6. Aubert Michel F, The practical significance of rabies antibodies in cats and dogs, Scientific and Technical Revue, 11(3) 735, 1992 Paris, France
7. “Administration of rabies virus vaccines to cats is subject to inconsistent state and local statutes. In some cases, the requirements fail to consider the duration of protection such vaccines induce; annual administration of rabies vaccines approved for triennial administration is required in many locals. Veterinary organizations should continue to work with state and local governing bodies to ensure that rabies virus vaccine regulations are consistent with the known duration of immunity of available vaccines.” Richards J, 2000 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel Feline Vaccines.
8. “Local and regional regulatory authorities mandate revaccination schedules including some that are more frequent than necessary as demonstrated by scientific evidence.” Klingborg, Hustead, Curry Galvan, AVMA Council On Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA,Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002.
9. “Every effort should be made to change laws that require vaccination with this rabies product more often than every three years since annual vaccinations cannot be shown to increase efficacy and it is known to increase adverse events” Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
Administration of Leptospirosis vaccination in Texas without informed consent of the incidence in the locality and the potential side effects is unethical.
1. Although Leptospirosis is re-emerging as an endemic disease for dogs in some areas of the country, Leptospirosis in dogs in Texas is a very rare disease. According to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab there is only an average of twelve cases of Leptospirosis documented in dogs in Texas per year. Factors to identify those dogs that are at risk have not been identified. Given that there are over six million dogs in Texas, the risk of leptospirosis disease to a dog is less than two in a million.
2. The commonly used vaccine only contains serovars Lepto. canicola and Lepto. icterohaemorrhagiae and no cross protection is provided against the other three serovars diagnosed in Texas. Newer vaccines containing Lepto pomona, and Lepto grippotyphosa are available. To provide protection for a dog against Leptospirosis would require two vaccines with four serovars annually.
3. Although humans can develop Leptospirosis, the spread of Lepto. from a dog to a human has never been documented and is thought to be a very low risk.
References:
1. Angulo, A. B. DVM, MS, PhD, ACVM, College Station, Texas, Personal phone conferences. (Antec samples are all sent to the TVMDL, Idexx samples are sent to Michigan and Texas results are not available.)
2. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol. 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
3. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001
The recommendation of Lyme disease vaccine for dogs in Texas without informed consent is unethical.
1. Eighty percent of Lyme disease cases in the U. S. are found in nine New England States, Minnesota and Michigan.
2. The Texas Department of Health reports an average of 70 human cases of Lyme disease in Texas annually, many of which were acquired when people traveled outside of the State.
3. Julie Rawlings reported in her research on the incidence of the Lyme disease organism in Texas State Parks for the Texas Department of Health, that the Borrelia buorgdorferi organism is not present in sufficient amounts in the suitable tick vector for dogs to be at risk of Lyme disease in Texas.
4. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine has not documented one case of Lyme disease in a dog. Screening of shelter dogs by Dr Alice Wolf has not demonstrated one case.
5. Dr Jacobson, Cornell University (ret) has documented a temporal relationship between Lyme vaccine and the development of polyarthritis in dogs.
References:
1. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
2. Greene CE, Schultz RD, Ford, R, Canine Vaccination, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3, May 2001, pg 473- 492.
3. Jacobson RH, Chang YF, Shin SJ, Lyme disease; laboratory diagnosis of infected and vaccinated symptomatic dogs, Seminars in VET Medicine and Surgery; Small Animal, 11(3); 172-82 Aug 1996.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg.
5. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001
Injection site fibrosarcoma is a fatal cancer caused by vaccines.
Clients should be informed of the risk of a vaccine causing an injection site fibrosarcoma. Although any injection can result in a fibrosarcoma, adjuvanted vaccines have been determined to be at least five times a higher risk of causing an injection site fibrosarcoma.
1. Vaccines have been incriminated as a cause of Injection Site Fibrosarcoma in cats.
2. Adjuvanted vaccines have been demonstrated to be at higher risk.
3. It is estimated that 1:20,000 cats vaccinated develop vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma.
4. Injection site fibrosarcomas are 100% fatal if untreated. The prognosis, even with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is very poor.
5. The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the AVMA Vaccine Associated Sarcoma Task Force recommend reduced vaccination schedules and alternative non-adjuvanted and intranasal vaccines.
References
1. O’Rourke Kate, Progress made in feline sarcoma research, JAVMA, Vol. 220, No 6, March 2002.
2. Bergman P, Hendrick MJ, Macy D, McGill LD, Starr RM, Van Kampen KR, Feline Sarcoma and Vaccination, Veterinary Forum, March 1999,40-47.
3. Bergman PJ, Etiology of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas, JAVMA, 1998,213, 1424-1425.
4. Kass PH, Barnes WG, Spangler WL, Epidemiologic evidence for a Causal Relationship Between Vaccination and Fibrosarcoma Tumorigenesis in Cats, JAVMA, 1993,203, 396-405.
5. Meyer EK, Vaccine Associated Adverse Events, Veterinary Clinics of North America; Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3 May 2001, pg 473-492.
6. Gaskell R, Gettinby G, Graham S, Skilton D, Veterinary Products Committee working Group on Feline and Canine Vaccination, Department for Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House London, UK, May 2001
7. Ford, Richard, Vaccines & Vaccinations Change is in the Wind, Merial Ltd, 2003
The vaccination of cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine is unnecessary.
1. Feline Infectious peritonitis is a rare disease.
2. Eight percent of adult cats carry the normal flora and virulent Feline Corona Virus. On rare occasions this Corona Virus mutates to become a virulent feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus. Every mutation is a different variant and there is no cross protection. This vaccine does not and cannot work.
3. Independent studies fail to confirm the manufacturers’ claims for efficacy.
4. Twenty- two Schools of Veterinary Medicine, The American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and the American Association of Feline Practitioners does not recommend this vaccine.
References:
1. Kennedy M, Boedecker N, Gibbs P, Kania S, Deletions of the 7a ORF of feline corona virus associated with an epidemic of FIP, Vet Microbiology, 81(3): 227-34, Aug. 8, 2001 Department of Comparative Medicine, U of Tenn, CVM.
2. Kiss I, Kecskemeti S, Tanyi J, Klingeborn B, Belak S, Prevalence and genetic pattern of feline coronavirus in urban cat populations, Vet J 159, (1); 64-70, Jan 2000.Veterinary Institute of Debrecen, Hungary, Harcourt Publishers Ltd, 2000.
3. Vennema H, Poland A, Hawkins F, Pedersen NC, A comparison of the genomes of FECV and Feline Infectious Peritonitis viruses, Feline Practice, 23, 40-44, 1995.
4. Herreewegh AA, Maher M, Hedrich HJ, Haagmans BL, Egberink HF, Persistence and Evolution of Feline Corona virus in a closed
5. Richards J, Rodan I, Feline Vaccine Guidelines, Veterinary Clinics of North America, Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3,
6. Rohrbach Barton W, Legendre A M, Epidemiology of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Among Cats Examined at Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, JAVMA 218, (7): 111-15 April 1, 2001.
7. Vennema H, Genetic drift and genetic shift during feline coronavirus evolution, Vet Microbiology 69(1-2); 139-41 1999 Sept 1.
8. Gunn-Moore DA, Gunn-Moore FJ, Gruffydd-Jones TJ, Harbour DA, Detection of FeCoV quasaspecies using denaturing gradient gel eletrophoresis, Vet Microbiology 69(1-2): 127-30 Sept 1, 1999.
9. Kida k, Hohdatsu T, Fuji K, Koyama H, Selection of antigenic variants of the S glycoprotein of FIP virus and analysis of antigenic sites involved in neutralization, J Vet Med Sci. 61(8): 935 – 8 Aug 1999
10. Vennema H, Poland A, Foley J, Pederson NC, Feline Infectious peritonitis viruses arise by mutation from endemic feline enteric corona viruses, Virology 234(1): 150-7, March 30,1998.
11. Kennedy MA, Brenneman K, Millsaps RK, Black J, Potgieter LN, Correlation of genomic detection of feline corona virus with various diagnostic assays for feline infectious peritonitis, J Vet Diagn Invest 10(1); 93-7, Jan 1998.
12. Herreweigh AA, Mahler M, Hedrich HJ, Haagmans Bl, Egberink HF, Horzinek MC, Rottier PJ, de Groot RJ, Persistence and evolution of feline corona virus in a closed cat-breeding colony, Virology 234(2): 349-63, Aug 4 1997.
13. Mochizuki M, Misutake Y, Miyanohara Y, Higashihara T, Shimizu T, Hodatsu T, Antigenic and plaque variations of serotype II feline infectious peritonitis corona virus, J Vet Med Sci, 59(4): 253-8, April 1007.
14. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin EA, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA Vol 221, No 10, pg 1407. November 15, 2002
15. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines, pg. 15 & 16
The Feline Immunosupressive virus (FIV) vaccine is unnecessary.
1. The virus in the vaccine is Clade A & D. The predominant Clade found to cause FIP disease in the United States is Clade B. Cross protection is poor.
References:
1.Yamamoto, Janet K, Torres Barbara A, Pu Ruiyi, Development of the dual-type feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine, AIDs Science Vol. 2, No 8, 26 April 2002.
2. Pu Ruiyi, Dual-subtype FIV vaccine, AIDS 15, pg. 1225-37, July 6, 2001 (Pub Med)
The recommendation for annual Feline Leukemia vaccine for indoor only cats or adult cats without informed consent is arguable.
1. Cats over one year of age are resistant to Feline leukemia virus whether they are vaccinated or not.
2. Although the duration of immunity of Feline Leukemia vaccine is controversial, 22 Schools of Veterinary Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommend this vaccine for at-risk adult cats only.
References:
1. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin EA, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA
2. Hoover EA, Feline leukemia virus infection: Age related variation in response to infection, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 57, 365. (1776)
3. Hofmann-Lehmann R, Recombinant FeLV Vaccine: Long-term protection effect on course and outcome of FIV infection, Veterinary Immunology Immunopathology, 4691- 2); 127-37 May 1999
4. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines.
The recommendation of blood tests for antibody titers on dogs and cats in order to determine if booster shots are required is unethical.
1. The duration of immunity to infectious disease agents is controlled by memory cells, B & T lymphocytes. Once programmed, memory cells persist for life. The presence of memory cells is not taken into effect when testing for antibody titers.
2. Even in the absence of an antibody titer, memory cells are capable of mounting an adequate immune response in an immunized patient. A negative titer does not indicate lack of immunity, or the ability of a vaccine to significantly enhance the immune status of a patient.
3. A positive titer has not been demonstrated by challenge studies to indicate immunity.
4. The client is paying for a test where the Veterinarian can make no claims as to the significance of a positive or negative test result.
References:
1. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
2. Klingborg Donald, Principles of Vaccination, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, Policy on Biologics, April 2002.
3. Wolf Alice M, Just the Facts About Vaccs: Frequently Asked Questions About Current Vaccination Recommendations and Practice Guidelines, Proceedings from the North American Veterinary Conference, 13, 1999, pg. 681.
4. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines, pg. 15 & 16.
5. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
6. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
Possibly no other medical professional engenders as much trust as the veterinarian. They love animals and their income is modest compared to other doctors. Yet the sluggish adoption of a new vaccination protocol threatens this trustworthiness.
You be the judge.
Given the research and professional support against them, is it prudent to subject your cat or dog to the inherent risks; is it reasonable to pay for these vaccinations?
~Source: Dr. Robert L. Rogers, DVM
Sign the Petition to Grant a Medical Exemption from Rabies Shots for Sick and Senior Pets
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Canine Coronavirus vaccinations for adult dogs
1. Dogs over eight weeks of age are not susceptible to canine corona virus disease. Canine corona virus has never been demonstrated to cause disease in adult dogs.
2. The argument that dogs that develop parvovirus enteritis concurrently with corona virus infection will develop worse symptoms than a dog that develops parvovirus alone is without merit. If dogs over eight weeks of age are immunized against canine parvovirus they will not develop symptoms of canine corona virus disease. Addition of an unnecessary antigen to the vaccine will result in increased risk of adverse reactions.
3. Immunologists doubt that Canine Coronavirus vaccine works, as it would require secretory mucosal IgA antibodies to protect against coronavirus infection and a parenteral vaccine does not accomplish this very well.
4. The American Animal Hospital Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and Twenty-two Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Texas A&M University do not recommend canine coronavirus vaccine.
5. Gastroenterologists at Schools of Veterinary Medicine including Dr Michael Willard at Texas A&M University have stated that they have only seen one case of corona virus disease in a dog in ten years.
6. On at least one occasion large numbers of dogs have died from adverse reactions to corona virus vaccine.
References: Dogs over 8 weeks of age do not develop disease from canine corona virus.
1. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
2. Paul, Michael A., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
3. Schultz, Ronald D., “Are we vaccinating too much?” JAVMA, No.4, August 15, 1995, pg. 421.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg. 251.
5. Klingborg, Hustead, Curry Galvan, AVMA Council On Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002.
6. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
7. Ford, Richard B, Vaccines and Vaccinations, The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Volume 31, No 3, May 2001 8. Wilson RB, Holladay JA, Cave JS, A Neurologic Syndrome Associated with the Use of Canine Corona virus-Parvovirus Vaccine in Dogs, compendium on CE, 8,1986, 117-124.
Administering and charging for re-administration of modified live vaccines like Canine Distemper, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Panleukopenia, injectable Feline Rhinotracheitis and injectable Feline Calicivirus on an semi-annual, annual or bi-annual basis is unnecessary
1. The American Veterinary Medical Association, Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents has advised the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics that there is no scientific data to support label claims for annual re-administration of modified live vaccines and label claims should be backed by scientific data.
2. It is the consensus of immunologists that a modified live virus vaccine must replicate in order to stimulate the immune system. With repeat administration of MLV vaccine antibodies from a previous vaccination will block the replication of the new vaccinate virus. The immune status of the patient is not enhanced in any way. There is no benefit to the patient. The patient is being exposed to unnecessary risk of an adverse reaction.
3. A temporal association has been demonstrated between vaccinations and the development of Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia.
4. It has been demonstrated that the duration of immunity for Canine Distemper virus is 7 years by challenge, and 15 years by serology; for Canine Parvovirus is 7 years by challenge, for Feline Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, and Feline Calicivirus is 7.5 years by challenge.
References:
1. Hogenen Esch Harm, Dunham Anisa D, Scott-Moncrieff Catharine, Glickman Larry, DeBoer Douglas J, Effect of vaccination on serum concentrations of total and antigen-specific immunoglobulin E in dogs, AJVR, Vol 63, No. 4, April 2002, pgs. 611-616.
2. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-What’s right? What’s not? Compendium on Continuing Education, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32.
3. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Are we vaccinating too much?” JAVMA, No. 4, August 15, 1995, pg. 421.
5. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg. 243.
6. Schultz, Ronald D, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and What We Don’t Know, Proceedings – Canine Infectious Diseases: From Clinics to Molecular Pathogenesis, Ithaca, NY, 1999, 22.
7. Schultz, Ronald D, The Vaccine Controversy: What Vaccines Do Cats and Dogs Really Need and How Often Do They Need To Be Vaccinated? Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
8. Larson L J, Sawchuck S, Bonds M D, Schultz RD, Comparison of Antibody Titers Among Dogs Vaccinated, One, Two, Three Years Previously, Proceedings of 80th Meeting of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases, CRWD, Chicago, IL, 1999. 9. Gorham, J.R., “Duration of vaccination immunity and the influence on subsequent prophylaxis” JAVMA 149:699-704; 1966
9. Phillips, Tom R. and Schultz, Ronald D, “Canine and Feline vaccines”, Current Veterinary Therapy XI, ed. Kirk and Bonagura, pg. 202, 205, WB Saunders Co, Philadelphia, PA 1992.
10. Klingborg Donald, Principles of Vaccination, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, Policy on Biologics, April 2002
11. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
12. Ford, Richard B, Vaccines and Vaccinations, The Veterinary Clinics of North America, Volume 31, No 3, May 2001 13. Tizard Ian, Use of serologic testing to assess immune status of companion animals, JAVMA,Vol 213, No 1, July 1, 1998.
14. Scott FW, Cordell MG, Long – term immunity in cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine, AJVR, May 1999, Vol. 60, No. 5.
15. Lappin MR, Andrews J, Simpson D, Jensen W, Use of Serologic Tests to Predict Resistance to Feline Herpes virus 1, Feline Calcivirus, and Feline Parvovirus Infection in Cats, JAVMA, 220[1]: 38-42 Jan 1, 2002
Annual rabies vaccination for dogs with a three-year duration of immunity vaccine and one-year duration of immunity vaccine for cats is unnecessary.
1. Rabies vaccine has been licensed by the USDA as a three- year vaccine. Rabies vaccine has been proven to have a minimum duration of immunity of three years by challenge to the USDA, seven years by serology by Dr Ron Schultz, and four years for cats and five years for dogs by challenge by Aubert.
2. Beyond the second vaccination, no data exist to demonstrate that the immune status of the pet is enhanced. Data shows that the immune status of the pet is degraded.
3. The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians recommendation is for vaccination of dogs and cats for rabies at four months, one year later and then every three years subsequently. This recommendation has been adopted in 33 States in the United States.
4. The Texas Department of Public Health adopted a new tri-annual policy effective in March 2003.
References:
1. The Texas Department of Public Health, White Paper on Options for rabies vaccinations.
2. HogenenEsch Harm, Dunham Anisa D, Scott-Moncrieff Catharine, Glickman Larry, DeBoer Douglas J, Effect of vaccination on serum concentrations of total and antigen-specific immunoglobulin E in dogs, AJVR, Vol. 63, No. 4, April 2002, pg 611-616.
3. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-What’s right? What’s not? Compendium on Continuing Education, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32.
4. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001.
5. Schultz, Ronald D, Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and What We Don’t Know, Proceedings – Canine Infectious Diseases: From Clinics to Molecular Pathogenesis, Ithaca, NY, 1999, 22.
6. Aubert Michel F, The practical significance of rabies antibodies in cats and dogs, Scientific and Technical Revue, 11(3) 735, 1992 Paris, France
7. “Administration of rabies virus vaccines to cats is subject to inconsistent state and local statutes. In some cases, the requirements fail to consider the duration of protection such vaccines induce; annual administration of rabies vaccines approved for triennial administration is required in many locals. Veterinary organizations should continue to work with state and local governing bodies to ensure that rabies virus vaccine regulations are consistent with the known duration of immunity of available vaccines.” Richards J, 2000 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel Feline Vaccines.
8. “Local and regional regulatory authorities mandate revaccination schedules including some that are more frequent than necessary as demonstrated by scientific evidence.” Klingborg, Hustead, Curry Galvan, AVMA Council On Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA,Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002.
9. “Every effort should be made to change laws that require vaccination with this rabies product more often than every three years since annual vaccinations cannot be shown to increase efficacy and it is known to increase adverse events” Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
Administration of Leptospirosis vaccination in Texas without informed consent of the incidence in the locality and the potential side effects is unethical.
1. Although Leptospirosis is re-emerging as an endemic disease for dogs in some areas of the country, Leptospirosis in dogs in Texas is a very rare disease. According to the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab there is only an average of twelve cases of Leptospirosis documented in dogs in Texas per year. Factors to identify those dogs that are at risk have not been identified. Given that there are over six million dogs in Texas, the risk of leptospirosis disease to a dog is less than two in a million.
2. The commonly used vaccine only contains serovars Lepto. canicola and Lepto. icterohaemorrhagiae and no cross protection is provided against the other three serovars diagnosed in Texas. Newer vaccines containing Lepto pomona, and Lepto grippotyphosa are available. To provide protection for a dog against Leptospirosis would require two vaccines with four serovars annually.
3. Although humans can develop Leptospirosis, the spread of Lepto. from a dog to a human has never been documented and is thought to be a very low risk.
References:
1. Angulo, A. B. DVM, MS, PhD, ACVM, College Station, Texas, Personal phone conferences. (Antec samples are all sent to the TVMDL, Idexx samples are sent to Michigan and Texas results are not available.)
2. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol. 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
3. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001
The recommendation of Lyme disease vaccine for dogs in Texas without informed consent is unethical.
1. Eighty percent of Lyme disease cases in the U. S. are found in nine New England States, Minnesota and Michigan.
2. The Texas Department of Health reports an average of 70 human cases of Lyme disease in Texas annually, many of which were acquired when people traveled outside of the State.
3. Julie Rawlings reported in her research on the incidence of the Lyme disease organism in Texas State Parks for the Texas Department of Health, that the Borrelia buorgdorferi organism is not present in sufficient amounts in the suitable tick vector for dogs to be at risk of Lyme disease in Texas.
4. Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine has not documented one case of Lyme disease in a dog. Screening of shelter dogs by Dr Alice Wolf has not demonstrated one case.
5. Dr Jacobson, Cornell University (ret) has documented a temporal relationship between Lyme vaccine and the development of polyarthritis in dogs.
References:
1. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
2. Greene CE, Schultz RD, Ford, R, Canine Vaccination, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3, May 2001, pg 473- 492.
3. Jacobson RH, Chang YF, Shin SJ, Lyme disease; laboratory diagnosis of infected and vaccinated symptomatic dogs, Seminars in VET Medicine and Surgery; Small Animal, 11(3); 172-82 Aug 1996.
4. Schultz, Ronald D., “Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs”, Veterinary Medicine, March 1998, pg.
5. Wolf Alice, Vaccines of the Present and Future, Proceedings of the World Animal Veterinary Congress, Vancouver 2001
Injection site fibrosarcoma is a fatal cancer caused by vaccines.
Clients should be informed of the risk of a vaccine causing an injection site fibrosarcoma. Although any injection can result in a fibrosarcoma, adjuvanted vaccines have been determined to be at least five times a higher risk of causing an injection site fibrosarcoma.
1. Vaccines have been incriminated as a cause of Injection Site Fibrosarcoma in cats.
2. Adjuvanted vaccines have been demonstrated to be at higher risk.
3. It is estimated that 1:20,000 cats vaccinated develop vaccine-associated fibrosarcoma.
4. Injection site fibrosarcomas are 100% fatal if untreated. The prognosis, even with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy is very poor.
5. The American Association of Feline Practitioners and the AVMA Vaccine Associated Sarcoma Task Force recommend reduced vaccination schedules and alternative non-adjuvanted and intranasal vaccines.
References
1. O’Rourke Kate, Progress made in feline sarcoma research, JAVMA, Vol. 220, No 6, March 2002.
2. Bergman P, Hendrick MJ, Macy D, McGill LD, Starr RM, Van Kampen KR, Feline Sarcoma and Vaccination, Veterinary Forum, March 1999,40-47.
3. Bergman PJ, Etiology of feline vaccine-associated sarcomas, JAVMA, 1998,213, 1424-1425.
4. Kass PH, Barnes WG, Spangler WL, Epidemiologic evidence for a Causal Relationship Between Vaccination and Fibrosarcoma Tumorigenesis in Cats, JAVMA, 1993,203, 396-405.
5. Meyer EK, Vaccine Associated Adverse Events, Veterinary Clinics of North America; Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3 May 2001, pg 473-492.
6. Gaskell R, Gettinby G, Graham S, Skilton D, Veterinary Products Committee working Group on Feline and Canine Vaccination, Department for Food & Rural Affairs, Nobel House London, UK, May 2001
7. Ford, Richard, Vaccines & Vaccinations Change is in the Wind, Merial Ltd, 2003
The vaccination of cats with Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine is unnecessary.
1. Feline Infectious peritonitis is a rare disease.
2. Eight percent of adult cats carry the normal flora and virulent Feline Corona Virus. On rare occasions this Corona Virus mutates to become a virulent feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus. Every mutation is a different variant and there is no cross protection. This vaccine does not and cannot work.
3. Independent studies fail to confirm the manufacturers’ claims for efficacy.
4. Twenty- two Schools of Veterinary Medicine, The American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents and the American Association of Feline Practitioners does not recommend this vaccine.
References:
1. Kennedy M, Boedecker N, Gibbs P, Kania S, Deletions of the 7a ORF of feline corona virus associated with an epidemic of FIP, Vet Microbiology, 81(3): 227-34, Aug. 8, 2001 Department of Comparative Medicine, U of Tenn, CVM.
2. Kiss I, Kecskemeti S, Tanyi J, Klingeborn B, Belak S, Prevalence and genetic pattern of feline coronavirus in urban cat populations, Vet J 159, (1); 64-70, Jan 2000.Veterinary Institute of Debrecen, Hungary, Harcourt Publishers Ltd, 2000.
3. Vennema H, Poland A, Hawkins F, Pedersen NC, A comparison of the genomes of FECV and Feline Infectious Peritonitis viruses, Feline Practice, 23, 40-44, 1995.
4. Herreewegh AA, Maher M, Hedrich HJ, Haagmans BL, Egberink HF, Persistence and Evolution of Feline Corona virus in a closed
5. Richards J, Rodan I, Feline Vaccine Guidelines, Veterinary Clinics of North America, Small Animal Practice, Vol 31, No 3,
6. Rohrbach Barton W, Legendre A M, Epidemiology of Feline Infectious Peritonitis Among Cats Examined at Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, JAVMA 218, (7): 111-15 April 1, 2001.
7. Vennema H, Genetic drift and genetic shift during feline coronavirus evolution, Vet Microbiology 69(1-2); 139-41 1999 Sept 1.
8. Gunn-Moore DA, Gunn-Moore FJ, Gruffydd-Jones TJ, Harbour DA, Detection of FeCoV quasaspecies using denaturing gradient gel eletrophoresis, Vet Microbiology 69(1-2): 127-30 Sept 1, 1999.
9. Kida k, Hohdatsu T, Fuji K, Koyama H, Selection of antigenic variants of the S glycoprotein of FIP virus and analysis of antigenic sites involved in neutralization, J Vet Med Sci. 61(8): 935 – 8 Aug 1999
10. Vennema H, Poland A, Foley J, Pederson NC, Feline Infectious peritonitis viruses arise by mutation from endemic feline enteric corona viruses, Virology 234(1): 150-7, March 30,1998.
11. Kennedy MA, Brenneman K, Millsaps RK, Black J, Potgieter LN, Correlation of genomic detection of feline corona virus with various diagnostic assays for feline infectious peritonitis, J Vet Diagn Invest 10(1); 93-7, Jan 1998.
12. Herreweigh AA, Mahler M, Hedrich HJ, Haagmans Bl, Egberink HF, Horzinek MC, Rottier PJ, de Groot RJ, Persistence and evolution of feline corona virus in a closed cat-breeding colony, Virology 234(2): 349-63, Aug 4 1997.
13. Mochizuki M, Misutake Y, Miyanohara Y, Higashihara T, Shimizu T, Hodatsu T, Antigenic and plaque variations of serotype II feline infectious peritonitis corona virus, J Vet Med Sci, 59(4): 253-8, April 1007.
14. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin EA, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA Vol 221, No 10, pg 1407. November 15, 2002
15. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines, pg. 15 & 16
The Feline Immunosupressive virus (FIV) vaccine is unnecessary.
1. The virus in the vaccine is Clade A & D. The predominant Clade found to cause FIP disease in the United States is Clade B. Cross protection is poor.
References:
1.Yamamoto, Janet K, Torres Barbara A, Pu Ruiyi, Development of the dual-type feline immunodeficiency virus vaccine, AIDs Science Vol. 2, No 8, 26 April 2002.
2. Pu Ruiyi, Dual-subtype FIV vaccine, AIDS 15, pg. 1225-37, July 6, 2001 (Pub Med)
The recommendation for annual Feline Leukemia vaccine for indoor only cats or adult cats without informed consent is arguable.
1. Cats over one year of age are resistant to Feline leukemia virus whether they are vaccinated or not.
2. Although the duration of immunity of Feline Leukemia vaccine is controversial, 22 Schools of Veterinary Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommend this vaccine for at-risk adult cats only.
References:
1. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin EA, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agent’s report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA
2. Hoover EA, Feline leukemia virus infection: Age related variation in response to infection, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 57, 365. (1776)
3. Hofmann-Lehmann R, Recombinant FeLV Vaccine: Long-term protection effect on course and outcome of FIV infection, Veterinary Immunology Immunopathology, 4691- 2); 127-37 May 1999
4. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines.
The recommendation of blood tests for antibody titers on dogs and cats in order to determine if booster shots are required is unethical.
1. The duration of immunity to infectious disease agents is controlled by memory cells, B & T lymphocytes. Once programmed, memory cells persist for life. The presence of memory cells is not taken into effect when testing for antibody titers.
2. Even in the absence of an antibody titer, memory cells are capable of mounting an adequate immune response in an immunized patient. A negative titer does not indicate lack of immunity, or the ability of a vaccine to significantly enhance the immune status of a patient.
3. A positive titer has not been demonstrated by challenge studies to indicate immunity.
4. The client is paying for a test where the Veterinarian can make no claims as to the significance of a positive or negative test result.
References:
1. Wolf, Alice M., Vaccinations-what’s right? What’s not? Compendium on CE, Schering-Plough Animal Health, 1999, pg. 32, 33.
2. Klingborg Donald, Principles of Vaccination, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents, Policy on Biologics, April 2002.
3. Wolf Alice M, Just the Facts About Vaccs: Frequently Asked Questions About Current Vaccination Recommendations and Practice Guidelines, Proceedings from the North American Veterinary Conference, 13, 1999, pg. 681.
4. 2000 Report of American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines, pg. 15 & 16.
5. Klingborg, DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin E, AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ Report on cat and dog vaccines, JAVMA, Vol 221, No 10, Nov 15, 2002, pg 1401- 1407.
6. Paul, Michael, Report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force: 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, AAHA Foundation, March 2003
Possibly no other medical professional engenders as much trust as the veterinarian. They love animals and their income is modest compared to other doctors. Yet the sluggish adoption of a new vaccination protocol threatens this trustworthiness.
You be the judge.
Given the research and professional support against them, is it prudent to subject your cat or dog to the inherent risks; is it reasonable to pay for these vaccinations?
~Source: Dr. Robert L. Rogers, DVM
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