VACCINES--Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo

[Kris L. Christine]

There is much confusion in the general public about the duration of immunity of canine vaccines. Below is a copy of my testimony and model disclosure submitted to Maine's Agriculture Committee in support of LD 429, the nation's first pet vaccine disclosure legislation, which was introduced on my behalf by Representative Peter Rines of Wiscasset. Anyone who wishes to have copies of the attachments referenced below, please e-mail me at ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com.

PERMISSION GRANTED TO CROSS-POST THIS MESSAGE.

February 27, 2005

TO: The Agriculture, Conservation and Forest Committee

RE: LD 429, An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms

My name is Kris Christine and I live with my family in Maine. Before I begin my testimony, I’d like to advise the committee that one of the world’s leading veterinary research scientists, Dr. W. Jean Dodds, wanted to be here today to testify in support of LD429, but could not do so because of prior commitments. With her permission, in the attachments to my testimony, I have included her letter to Representative Peter Rines dated February 17, 2005 (Attachment 5) resolutely endorsing this first-in-the-nation veterinary vaccine disclosure legislation.

I am here today to respectfully urge this committee to recommend passage of LD429 – An Act to Require Veterinarians to Provide Vaccine Disclosure Forms because pet owners need the scientifically proven durations of immunity (how long vaccines are effective for) in order to make informed medical choices for their animals.

Many Maine veterinarians have failed to inform clients that most core veterinary vaccines protect for seven or more years, and pet owners, unaware that their animals don’t need booster vaccinations more often, have unwittingly given their companions useless booster shots – taking an unnecessary toll on their finances and animals’ health. The human equivalent would be physicians vaccinating patients against tetanus once every year, two years, or three years and not disclosing that the vaccines are known to be protective for 10 years.

For years veterinarians have sent pet owners annual, biennial and triennial reminders for redundant booster shots and justified it with vaccine manufacturers’ labeled recommendations. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6), “..revaccination frequency recommendations found on many vaccine labels is based on historical precedent, not on scientific data … [and] does not resolve the question about average or maximum duration of immunity [Page 2] and..may fail to adequately inform practitioners about optimal use of the product…[Page 4] .” As the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital states it: “…booster vaccine recommendations for vaccines other than rabies virus have been determined arbitrarily by manufacturers.”

Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chairman of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, is at the forefront of vaccine research and is one of the world’s leading authorities on veterinary vaccines. His challenge study results form the scientific base of the American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature (Attachment 7). These studies are based on science – they are not arbitrary. The public, however, cannot access this data. The American Animal Hospital Association only makes this report available to veterinarians, not private citizens, and Maine’s pet owners are unaware that the AAHA Guidelines state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count. So, unless the Legislature passes LD429 requiring veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms, dog owners who receive an annual, biennial, or triennial reminders for booster shots will not know that nationally-accepted scientific studies have demonstrated that animals are protected a minimum of 7 years after vaccination with the distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2 vaccines (see Page 12 AAHA 2003 Guidelines attached, and Table 1, Pages 3 and 4).

"My own pets are vaccinated once or twice as pups and kittens, then never again except for rabies,” Wall Street Journal reporter Rhonda L. Rundle quoted Dr. Ronald Schultz in a July 31, 2002 article entitled Annual Pet Vaccinations may be Unnecessary, Fatal (Attachment 2). Dr. Schultz knows something the pet-owning public doesn’t – he knows there’s no benefit in overvaccinating animals because immunity is not enhanced, but the risk of harmful adverse reactions is increased. He also knows that most core veterinary vaccines are protective for at least seven years, if not for the lifetime of the animal.

The first entry under Appendix 2 of the AAHA Guidelines (Attachment 7) “Important Vaccination ‘Do’s and Don’ts” is “Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly – Don’t revaccinate more often than is needed and only with the vaccines that prevent diseases for which that animal is at risk.” They also caution veterinarians: “Do Not Assume that Vaccines Cannot Harm a Patient – Vaccines are potent medically active agents and have the very real potential of producing adverse events.” Very few pet owners have had this disclosed to them.

The AVMA’s Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6) states that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” (page 2) They elaborate by reporting that: “Possible adverse events include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research.”(Page 2)

Referring to adverse reactions from vaccines, the Wall Street Journal article cited above (Attachment 2) reports: “In cats there has been a large increase in hyperthyroidism and cancerous tumors between the shoulder blades where vaccines typically are injected.” With modified live virus vaccines (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis), some animals can actually contract the same disease which they are being inoculated against. If the public knew an animal’s immunity to disease is not increased by overvaccination, they would certainly not consent to expose their pets to potential harm by giving them excessive booster shots.

Veterinary vaccines are potent biologic drugs – most having proven durations of immunity much longer than the annual, biennial or triennial booster frequencies recommended by vaccine manufacturers and veterinarians. They also carry the very real risk of serious adverse side affects and should not be administered more often than necessary to maintain immunity.

The extended durations of immunity for vaccines is not “new” or “recent” science as some members of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) have claimed. AAHA reveals on Page 2 of their Guidelines that ideal reduced vaccination protocols were recommended by vaccinology experts beginning in 1978. A Veterinary Practice News article entitled “Managing Vaccine Changes” (Attachment 3) by veterinarian Dennis M. McCurnin, reports that: “Change has been discussed for the past 15 years and now has started to move across the country."

According to a September 1, 2004 article in the DVM veterinary news magazine (Attachment 1), the 312 member Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) “champions full disclosure of vaccine information to pet owners.” MVMA president, Dr. Bill Bryant, is quoted as stating: “Its time for something like this to come out … disclosure forms will be an important resource to have available, [and] if it goes before the Legislature, we’d likely support it.”

It is time. Pet owners have the right to know the scientifically proven durations of immunity for the veterinary vaccines given their animals, as well as the potential adverse side effects and benefits. LD 429 would make that standardized information available to all pet owners.

Respectfully submitted,
Kris L. Christine
Attachments

MODEL CANINE CORE VACCINE DISCLOSURE FORM

Prepared by Kris L. Christine

Vaccines have played a significant role in enabling animals to live longer and healthier lives. Thorough evaluations of the risks of the disease, and those potentially associated with the vaccine, compared to the benefits of vaccination for the patient, are necessary in crafting optimal health recommendations that include vaccination.

The proper application of vaccines to animal populations has enhanced their health and welfare, and prolonged their life-spans. The risks to animal health from non-vaccination are significant. However, vaccination is a potent medical procedure associated with both benefits and risks for the patient. Adverse events, including some that are potentially severe, can be unintended consequences of vaccination. Because vaccinating an animal which is already immune to a disease does not increase their immunity, but does expose them to the risk of adverse reactions, it is important to avoid overvaccination. Blood titers can help determine whether an animal’s antibody count is at protective levels.

The risks associated with the core canine diseases are as follows:

1. Distemper – high rates of morbidity and mortality from respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological abnormalities; a widespread disease

2. Parvovirus – high rates of morbidity and mortality resulting primarily from gastrointestinal disease; this disease has worldwide distribution;

3. Canine Adenovirus – high rates of morbidity and mortality from liver dysfunction

4. Rabies – nearly universally fatal neurological disease. Infected animals are a potential source for human infection, thus vaccination is mandated by law in most states.

The risks associated with vaccination are as follows:

Possible adverse events from vaccination include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders such as hyper/hypothyroidism, polyarthritis, allergies, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research.

Optimal immune responses are obtained by vaccines administered singly three to four weeks apart rather than in combination shots. Single vaccine administration also reduces the likelihood of adverse events as well as increasing the animal’s immune response. Only healthy animals should be vaccinated.

Except for the rabies vaccine, manufacturers’ labeled revaccination recommendations are based on limited scientific data and do not contain information on the vaccine’s maximum duration of immunity. The tables below contain the minimum duration of immunity data from the canine vaccine studies performed by Dr. Ronald Schultz, Professor and Chair of the Pathobiological Sciences Department at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, which form the scientific base of the American Animal Hospital’s 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature.

If your animal experiences any of the following symptoms after vaccination, you should contact your veterinary care provider immediately: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrollable trembling, lack of coordination, seizures or a hard lump at the vaccination site which doesn’t disappear after a couple of weeks.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Table 1: Minimum Duration of Immunity for Canine Vaccines

Vaccine Minimum Duration Methods Used to

Of Immunity Determine Immunity

Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)

Rockborn Strain 7 years/15 years challenge/serology
Onderstepoort Strain 5 years/9 years challenge/serology

Canine Adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) 7 years/9 years challenge-CAV-1/serology
Canine Parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) 7 years challenge/serology

Canine Rabies 3 years/7 years challenge/serology

Data from Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What we know and Don’t Know by Dr. Ronald D. Schultz, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine.

Note: Challenge studies are those in which an animal is vaccinated, isolated for a number of years, and then injected with high doses of virulent virus to test its immunity to disease. Serology is the method of counting antibody levels in the blood to determine an animal’s immunity.

Rabies Shot Killed my Poodle May 28, 2008 Channel 5 News WCVB http://www.thebostonchannel.com:80/news ... os&taf=bos

Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm

What Everyone Needs to Know about Canine Vaccines, Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.puliclub.org/CHF/AKC2007Conf ... ccines.htm

World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007 (PDF)

The 2003 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are accessible online at http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm .

The 2006 American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Guidelines are downloadable in PDF format at http://www.aahanet.org/PublicDocumen...s06Revised.pdf .

Veterinarian, Dr. Robert Rogers,has an excellent presentation on veterinary vaccines at http://www.newvaccinationprotocols.com/

October 1, 2002 DVM Newsletter article entitled, AVMA, AAHA to Release Vaccine Positions, http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/arti ... p?id=35171

July 1, 2003 DVM Newsletter article entitled, What Do We Tell Our Clients?, Developing thorough plan to educate staff on changing vaccine protocols essential for maintaining solid relationships with clients and ensuring quality care http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/arti ... p?id=61696

July 1, 2003, DVM Newsletter article, Developing Common Sense Strategies for Fiscal Responsibility: Using an interactive template to plan service protocol changes http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=61694

Animal Wellness Magazine Article Vol. 8 Issue 6, How Often Does he REALLY Need A Rabies Shot Animal Wellness Magazine - devoted to natural health in animals

The Rabies Challenge Animal Wise Radio Interview
Listen to Animal Wise (scroll down to The Rabies Challenge 12/9/07)

The Vaccine Challenge Animal Talk Naturally Online Radio Show » The Vaccine Challenge - Show #91

US Declared Canine-Rabies Free -- CDC Announces at Inaugural World Rabies Day Symposium CDC Press Release - September 7, 2007

Rabies Prevention -- United States, 1991 Recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (ACIP), Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly March 22, 1991 / 40(RR03);1-19 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00041987.htm "A fully vaccinated dog or cat is unlikely to become infected with rabies, although rare cases have been reported (48). In a nationwide study of rabies among dogs and cats in 1988, only one dog and two cats that were vaccinated contracted rabies (49). All three of these animals had received only single doses of vaccine; no documented vaccine failures occurred among dogs or cats that had received two vaccinations. "

[Kris L. Christine]

Holistic Vet Advocates Alternative Pet Care http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08162/888634-338.stm
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 By Susan Banks, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"I think poor nutrition is responsible for a majority of the chronic
disease we see in animals, and [too many] vaccines are a close second."

"When it comes to vaccines, he's of the unwavering opinion that they
are given too often, sometimes causing long-term effects that may not
be immediately apparent. Certain cancers have been linked to vaccines,
and it is thought some autoimmune problems and perhaps seizure
disorders are also triggered by boosters. "

[Kris L. Christine]

"Avoiding Dangerous Veterinarians" by Jan Rasmussen, award-winning author http://www.dogs4dogs.com:80/vet .

Personally, I think the advice to check to see if there is a vet tech or someone who stays with surgical patients left over night in a clinic is excellent. A friend of mine had her scotty neutered and the vet insisted that it stay overnight. No staff was on-hand during the night and there was a violent thunderstorm (her dog, goes wild over loud sounds) and tore out all the stitches and was a mess the next day.

[Kris L. Christine]

There is an excellent article in the August 2008 issue of The Whole Dog Journal entitled Vaccinations 101 by Lisa Rodier. It is about Dr. Ronald Schultz and his studies on canine vaccines, including his current 5 & 7 year challenge studies on the rabies vaccine being financed by The Rabies Challenge Fund.

[Kris L. Christine]

Dr. W. Jean Dodds and I will be guests on the Animal Talk Naturally radio show July 30th at 2:30 PM Eastern: http://www.AnimalTalkNaturally.com to talk about canine vaccines -- if you're interested, tune in and ask a question!

[Kris L. Christine]

Here's a link to the July 30, 2008 Animal Talk Radio interview with Dr. W. Jean Dodds: Duration of Immunity: The Rabies Vaccine Challenge - Show #185 Animal Talk Radio Show 7/30/08 http://www.blogtalkradio.com/animaltalk ... e-Show-186

[Danny]

Thank-you Kris for all your work.

Vaccines

should not be administered more often than necessary to maintain immunity.

I quoted the above from your post. It's important that we identify common ground on which we all agree.

[Kris L. Christine]

Danny,

We all love dogs, I'm sure that's another point we agree on!

Kris

[boycee]

The frequency of vaccination for my dog DHLPP and Rabies is done annually. Is this ok?

thanks.

[Kris L. Christine]

Boycee,

The "DHP" part of the DHLPP combo vaccine contains distemper, hepatitis, and parvo vaccines. Those modified live virus vaccines have proven minimum durations of immunity of 7 years by challenge and up to 15 years serologically. Your dog's immunity is not being boosted by giving it those components every year, and it needlessly exposes it to the risk of adverse side affects.

Rabies immunization is mandated by law in the U.S. and while the vast majority of states have adopted the 3 year protocol recommended by the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians and the American Veterinary Medical Association, a few still require annual boosters. This is unfortunate because, in this country, the annual rabies vaccine is identical or similar to the 3 year vaccine in terms of efficacy and duration of immunity (according to Dr. Ronald Schultz).

If you're interested in learning more, you can click on the links provided above. I hope this information helps to answer your question.

[Nicholas]

I have degrees in Molecular bioscience and Immunology, and I have to say that even though most of what Kris L. Christine has said is correct it should be taken with a grain of salt.
-First off the "minimum duration of immunity of 7 years" is an average found between the animals studied. In studies like this they would throw out the outliers. The animals that only had immunity for 1 or 2 years(which statistically speaking could be one of your pets). And those with lifetime immunity. (But in their argument lifetime helps them so they probably keep those in there.)((that’s why actual data would help your argument) So if you go on faith that your dog has a healthy immune system, when he really doesn't, those boosters could prevent costly vet bills.
And if you wanted to check and see how well they are protected

Blood titers can help determine whether an animal’s antibody count is at protective levels.”

(I think if you were really interested in education and protection of the animals you should have made this bold)
- Booster shots are basically either inactivated viruses, viruses that have been denatured, or recombinant viral particles (basically Virus proteins that are grown in bacteria.) Vaccines also contain preservatives which can be harmful (this is still being studied).

The AVMA’s Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6) states that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” (page 2) They elaborate by reporting that: “Possible adverse events include failure to immunize"

If the animal is fully immunized it’s obvious that it’s not going to further immunize. So those animals there it failed to immunize probably never had an immune response and probably have a compromised immune system.

anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research.”(Page 2) "

I'd like to refer everyone that reads this to the Raw diet posts. I can't remember who said it, or what exactly was said but...
‘You need to weigh the pros vs the cons. your dog CAN choke on a raw chicken bone, but your dog can also choke on rawhides and even kibble.'

I guess my main argument is that, we should be able to trust and rely on vets to tell us when our pets should be vaccinated. Not us making irrational/uneducated assumptions
That's why I'm a strong supporter of the fact that Parents shouldn't decide what their children should be vaccinated for and when.
P.S. if you have a daughter in the suggested age range for Gardasil. Ask your doctor and Vaccinate her!

[Kris L. Christine]

Nicholas,

With degrees in biochemistry and immunology, you should be well aware that the modified (weakened) live virus vaccines such as distemper, hepatitis, and parvo confer long-term durations of immunity in dogs just as the human MLV's such as the polio, measles, mumps, and rubella do. I am sure you wouldn't advocate for anyone vaccinating their children or themselves annually or triennially against polio, measles, mumps, rubella, etc... ( The 2003 American Animal Hospital Canine Vaccine Guidelines ( http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm ) state that: "There is no indication that the immune system of canine patients functions in any way different from the human immune system. In humans, the epidemiological vigilance associated with vaccination is extremely well-developed and far exceeds similar efforts in animals whether companion or agricultural. ")

AAHA's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines ( http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm ) state on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count.

There are 14 members of the American Animal Hospital Association's Canine Vaccine Task Force, compromised of veterinarians as well as immunologists and vaccinologists, and their guidelines are based on peer-reviewed challenge and serological studies.

You state that

I guess my main argument is that, we should be able to trust and rely on vets to tell us when our pets should be vaccinated. Not us making irrational/uneducated assumptions.

Because of the financial link between veterniarians and vaccine income (see quotes and links to articles on this subject below), dog owners should do their homework by reading the studies and guidelines revealing the proven minimum durations of immunity for the canine vaccines issued by the American Animal Hospital Association and the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association, and then consult their veterinarians about an appropriate vaccination schedule for their animals -- informed consent. These highly respected veterinary medical associations have based their recommendations and guidelines on solid science -- these are not "uneducated" recommendations.

Veterinary trade publications have frankly addressed the issue of the link between vaccines and income.

Dr. Alice Wolf, Professor of Small Animal Internal Medicine at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, stated in an address (Vaccines of the Present and Future http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Pr ... R00141.htm) at the 2001 World Small Animal Veterinary Association World Congress that: “some veterinarians use the recommendation for vaccinations as a way to ensure client visits for yearly examinations and, least appropriate, as a ‘profit center.’”

On Page 18 of the American Animal Hospital Association's 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm , the task force declares: "However, the ethical issue that our profession struggles with today is whether economics justifies giving an animal a drug (vaccines are biologic drugs) that is not necessarily required. As a minimum, we should allow pet owners to make this choice rather than make it for them."

In an August 2004 cover story in Veterinary Economics entitled Targeting Changing Vaccine Protocols by Roger F. Cummings, they state that: "In the 1970s and ’80s many veterinarians derived a substantial percent of their total incomes from vaccinating dogs and cats. .....And in many practices today, the vaccination reminder is the one thing that drives visits from healthy pets. So changing your vaccine protocols could have a significant affect on practice finances."

In an October 1, 2002 DVM Newsletter article entitled, AVMA, AAHA to Release Vaccine Positions, http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/arti ... p?id=35171, Jennifer Fiala reports, "The statement stresses AVMA's stance on education, a reduction in the profession's dependence on vaccine sales, which account for a significant portion of practice income, ..........Veterinarians must promote the value of the exam and move away from their dependence on vaccine income. "

DVM's July 1, 2003 article, Developing Common Sense Strategies for Fiscal Responsibility http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/arti ... p?id=61694 declares that, "The purpose of this article is to focus on the third of these essential cornerstones: the economic realities of protocol changes, and how medical and surgical standards including reduced frequency of vaccination can be compatible with financial viability; and, yes, even success. ........For a real eye-opener of potential revenue loss, research practice records for the most recent 12 months of client activity to determine the estimated number of adult canine patients that were seen for annual vaccinations. Multiply this number times the revenue loss calculated above on an individual patient basis to determine the total potential lost income. "

From a July 1, 2003 DVM article entitled, What Do We Tell Our Clients? , http://www.dvmnewsmagazine.com/dvm/arti ... p?id=61696, "It has finally happened. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has released canine vaccine guidelines. Some practitioners may dread it and consider the recommendations as a 'practice buster.' ......The concern of course is the loss of our 'vaccine hook.' "

[Stew]

Nicholas,
You will waste a great deal of time arguing a rational science based point to this topic. What Kris will continue to do is throw outdated links and quotes as she has done in her reply until it becomes meaningless to continue. It is interesting that the quotes and links she uses to back up her argument are roughly 5 years old or older. Do vets make money from vaccinating animals...yes they do just like an accountant makes money doing your taxes or a painter makes money painting. YES, there was worry when the new vaccination protocols came out, about everything; increase in disease, minimum standards to prevent disease, endemic/epidemic/non-infective states, and yes income. She likes to throw out the "vets can't be trusted because they make money from vaccinating your pet" angle, but all of the vets I know and work with have switched to the 3 year protocols suggested by the AAHA, except in situations where the risk is increased and/or owners request specifically. The articles she quotes in terms of vets asking the hard questions in terms of loss of business really makes sense...any business owner will tell you a drop in even 5-10% in generated income can have disasterous effects to your hospitals operating budget and as a veterinary hospitals budget doesn't have the luxury of charging HMO's for procedures, and income can fluctuate seasonally or even based on location, it affects everything from front end service to facility equipment to staffing. So it is logical that they would want to know how this would affect their hospital, but Kris likes to make it look dirty and underhanded! She will also continue to throw out the 7, 9, 10 and 15 year stats on vaccine effectiveness, but of course never covers that it is ONLY average durations of immunity, and this doesn't cover breed, age, disease (prevalence, serotype, etc), and individual differences, not to mention the effects on immunocompromised individuals! She will however throw out all of the possible things that can go wrong with vaccines from site reactions, hypersensitivity reactions, injections site sarcomas etc, but doesn't offer the things that they do provide...protection from disease (not only to themselves but to the people that own them), becoming debilitated, or death. But hey just this week I got to watch as several beautiful doberman puppies died a horrendous death due to parvo...the well intentioned owner stopped vaccinating her bitch due to the well intentioned but often mis-leading information expunged by the anti-vaccine pundits...there was no transfer of maternal antibodies in the colostrum, but hey she had the MINIMUM amount serologically on her titer test...
Stew

Hey anyone read the new review study on the link between vaccinations and autism in people... they found NO LINK...oh no now who do we blame?!

[boycee]

WheW! I'd rather spend money on the booster doses of DHLPP for my dog annually then ... Losing such a good companion for just saving a couple of bucks isn't justifiable.

Thanks a lot!

[Kris L. Christine]

Boycee,

You should do your homework, and with the input of a veterinarian you trust, make an informed choice for your dog -- do not rely on any one person's opinion on a vaccine schedule for your dog.

Plenty of peer-reviewed internationally accepted scientific data is available on canine vaccines, and you can easily educate yourself. You should remember that there are signficiant adverse reactions associated with vaccines (some of which can be lethal), and giving redundant (more than is medically necessary to maintain immunity) boosters will put your dog at increased risk without increasing immunity.

Contact the veterinary medical schools (Cornell, U.C. Davis, Tufts, U. Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, etc...) and ask them about the minimum durations of immunity for canine vaccines and which vaccine protocols they recommend. Here in the States, they do not recommend annual DHLPP boosters.

Not vaccinating and overvaccinating are, in my opinion, poor options -- neither of which I would choose for my own dogs. Saving money is not the point here, keeping your dogs protected against disease without overvaccinating them is.