Subject: Vets in UK Speak against annual shots - official

Ten years after the start of the Canine Health Concern campaign to end
annual vaccination, the following letter appeared in Veterinary Times, UK -
at the end of January 2004. In the world of science, ten years is a very
short time in which to expect a sea change. We and others whose dogs have
suffered vaccine reactions; we whose beloved friends have died and suffered
unnecessarily, have been pilloried and castigated for speaking the truth for
long enough now. Time to take this letter to your vet; time to post it to
other vets in your neighbourhood; time to show this letter to all the dog
lovers you meet in the park or at classes. Time to get the truth out there
once and for all. Time to stop our beloved animals suffering. Time to say
'YES!' - but not yet time to stop the campaign. We shall not be finished
until annual vaccination is a thing of the past.

I dedicate this post to my own dear friends who had to die for this letter
to appear in Veterinary Times: Oliver, Prudence and Samson, and to the
thousands, or even millions, of animals and children whose lives have been
terminated because people in scientific and veterinary communities saw a way
to make a quick annual buck.

My respect and gratitude go to the courageous veterinarians who have
signed the letter below.

Catherine O'Driscoll

Please feel free to cross post far and wide:

Dear Editor

We, the undersigned, would like to bring to your attention our concerns in
the light of recent new evidence regarding vaccination protocol.

The American Veterinary Medical Association Committee report this year
states that 'the one year revaccination recommendation frequently found on
many vaccination labels is based on historical precedent, not scientific
data'.

In JAVMA in 1995, Smith notes that 'there is evidence that some vaccines
provide immunity beyond one year. In fact, according to research there is
no proof that many of the yearly vaccinations are necessary and that
protection in many instances may be life long'; also, 'Vaccination is a
potent medical procedure with both benefits and risks for the patient';
further that, 'Revaccination of patients with sufficient immunity does not
add measurably to their disease resistance, and may increase their risk of
adverse post-vaccination events.'

Finally, he states that: 'Adverse events may be associated with the
antigen, adjuvant, carrier, preservative or combination thereof. Possible
adverse events include failure to immunise, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression,
autoimmune disorders, transient infections and/or long-term infected carrier
states.'

The report of the American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine
Taskforce in JAAHA (39 March/April 2003) is also interesting reading:
'Current knowledgte supports the statement that no vaccine is always safe,
no vaccine is always protective and no vaccine is always indicated';
'Misunderstanding, misinformation and the conservative nature of our
profession have largely slowed adoption of protocols advocating decreased
frequency of vaccination'; 'Immunological memory provides durations of
immunity for core infectious diseases that far exceed the traditional
recommendations for annual vaccination. This is supported by a growing body
of veterinary information as well as well-developed epidemiological
vigilance in human medicine that indicates immunity induced by vaccination
is extremely long lasting and, in .most cases, lifelong.'

Further, the evidence shows that the duration of immunity for rabies
vaccine, canine distemper vaccine, canine parvovirus vaccine, feline
panleukopaenia vaccine, feline rhinotracheitis and feline calicivurus have
all been demonstrated to be a minimum of seven years, by serology for rabies
and challenge studies for all others.

The veterinary surgeons below fully accept that no single achievement has
had greater impact on the lives and well-being of our patients, our clients
and our ability to prevent infectious diseases than the developments in
annual vaccines. We, however, fully support the recommendations and
guidelines of the American Animal Hospitals Association Taskforce, to reduce
vaccine protocols for dogs and cats such that booster vaccinations are only
given every three years, and only for core vaccines unless otherwise
scientifically justified.

We further suggest that the evidence currently available will soon lead to
the following facts being accepted:

* The immune systems of dogs and cats mature fully at six months and any
modified live virus (MLV) vaccine given after that age produces immunity
that is good for the life of that pet.

* If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the
first vaccine neutralise the antigens from the subsequent so there is little
or no effect; the pet is not 'boosted', nor are more memory cells induced.

* Not only are annual boosters for canine parvovirus and distemper
unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions
and immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia.

* There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual
administration of MLV vaccines.

* Puppies and kittens receive antibodies through their mothers' milk.
This natural protection can last eight to 14 weeks.

* Puppies and kittens should NOT be vaccinated at less than eight weeks.
Maternal immunity will neutralise the vaccine and little protection will be
produced.

* Vaccination at six weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first
effective vaccine.

* Vaccines given two weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the
immune system.

This would give possible new guidelines as follows:

1. A series of vaccinations is given starting at eight weeks of age (or
preferably later) and given three to four weeks apart, up to 16 weeks of
age.

2. One further booster is given sometime after six months of age and will
then provide life-long immunity.

In light of data now available showing the needless use and potential harm
of annual vaccination, we call on our profession to cease the policy of
annual vaccination.

Can we wonder that clients are losing faith in vaccination and researching
the issue themselves? We think they are right to do so. Politics,
tradition or the economic well-being of veterinary surgeons and
pharmaceutical companies should not be a factor in making medical decisions.

It is accepted that the annual examination of a pet is advisable. We
undervalue ourselves, however, if we hang this essential service on the back
of vaccination and will ultimately suffer the consequences. Do we need to
wait until we see actions against vets, such as those launched in the state
of Texas by Dr Robert Rogers? He asserts that the present practice of
marketing vaccinations for companion animals constitutes fraud by
misrepresentation, fraud by silence and theft by deception.

The oath we take as newly-qualified veterinary surgeons is 'to help, or at
least do no harm'. We wish to maintain our position within society, and be
deserving of the trust placed in us as a profession. It is therefore our
contention that those who continue to give annual vaccinations in the light
of new evidence may well be acting contrary to the wefare of the animals
committed to their care.

Yours faithfully

Richard Allport, BVetMed, MRCVS
Sue Armstrong, MA BVetMed, MRCVS
Mark Carpenter, BVetMed, MRCVS
Sarah Fox-Chapman, MS, DVM, MRCVS
Nichola Cornish, BVetMed, MRCVS
Tim Couzens, BVetMed, MRCVS
Chris Day, MA, VetMB, MRCVS
Claire Davies, BVSc, MRCVS
Mark Elliott, BVSc, MRCVS
Peter Gregory, BVSc, MRCVS
Lise Hansen, DVM, MRCVS
John Hoare, BVSc, MRCVS
Graham Hines, BVSc, MRCVS
Megan Kearney, BVSc, MRCVS
Michelle L'oste Brown, BVetMed, MRCVS
Suzi McIntyre, BVSc, MRCVS
Siobhan Menzies, BVM&S, MRCVS
Nazrene Moosa, BVSc, MRCVS
Mike Nolan, BVSc, MRCVS
Ilse Pedler, MA, VetMB, BSc, MRCVS
John Saxton, BVetMed, MRCVS
Cheryl Sears, MVB, MRCVS
Jane Seymour, BVSc, MRCVS
Christine Shields, BVSc, MRCVS
Suzannah Stacey, BVSc, MRCVS
Phillip Stimpson, MA, VetMB, MRCVS
Nick Thompson, BSc, BVM&S, MRCVS
Lyn Thompson, BVSc, MRCVS
Wendy Vere, VetMB, MA, MRCVS
Anuska Viljoen, BVSc, MRCVS, and
Wendy Vink, BVSc, MRCVS.

Christine, Spain.

The tide is changing at last. I'm so glad I've had the courage to go against that tide for many years and not give annual boosters. :) 

I was annoyed to read letters in the Vet.Times  complaining that some of the vets that signed it were homeopathic but had failed to state their homeopathic qualifications after their name when they signed. It's so annoying when homeopathy is a totally separate issue to this whole issue of vaccination. In fact, I think it's dangerous to side step important issues of health to focus on a witch hunt and I imagine that could be why they omitted their letters in the first place!

Kath.

I dont have a puppy yet (due to get him in a couple of months - he hasnt been born yet ;) ) I do however have two cats which I believe this still concerns.  What would be the best thing to do before their annual booster, get a blood test ? Im not bothered about the extra money as their health is more important.  If they do not need a booster then would they still be accepted at a cattery (and a dog a kennels for that matter) ?? 

About time, Christine.

I think that it is important to make a point that this is not a cost-cutting exercise as far as the owners are concerned, as I feel it is necessary for our own peace of mind to have annual (?) antibody titres taken to monitor the situation in our dogs.

I have never been questioned when I have produced a document to show immunity when necessary for clubs etc - after all, there is no arguement with it.

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo,
   As my dog has had allergy problems, I was thinking of having him titre tested this year, rather than letting him have another booster.  I was just wondering what you do about lepto though?  Do your dogs just have that as a single vaccine each year, or do you not bother with it?  I do worry about it, as there was a dog at the vets with lepto a couple of years ago, and the vet nurse said what a horrible death it had.  I wonder if all rats just naturally carry this lepto disease, or are only some affected.
  Hilda

I believe I'm right in saying that a boarding kennel is only granted a licence to trade as long as it only accepts fully vaccinated and annually boostered animals. Without documentary evidence of the boosters being up-to-date they are not legally allowed to accept the animals, whether they want to or not.
:)

That is correct JG.  I have a cattery and I would lose my licence if I accepted cats that didn't have up to date vaccs even though I am opposed to the idea that an aged cat needs an annual booster.  I might speak to Environmental Health about this and see what they say.
Sally

So isn`t it about time this practice was questioned J/G & Sally?
After all if a dog/cat has been titred & shows it has high level antibodies, proving it`s immunity, together with the evidence provided by experts that booster aren`t necessary anyway, what scientific proof do they have to say that they are needed?

Christine, Spain.

I suppose that, because the existing system works, people reckon "better safe than sorry".
:)

But the existing system doesn't work, it causes harm, sometimes death. Surely though, with the way things are going,  licence policy will have to change.

Kath. :)

But to look at it from another point of view sometimes NOT vaccinating also causes harm and death; it is all a question of balance isn't it.  Those of us who compete and use boarding kennels do not have the luxury of choice at the moment unfortunately. :(

I agree Tohme, I can see both sides of the problem. I think they will have to change policy though,  if people who show/use kennels etc are *forced* to vaccinate when there's clear and growing evidence that it can be harmful, kennels/catteries could either be facing compensation claims for animals ill through enforced vaccs or they could go out of business through lack of custom.  I think the insurance companies are going to have to change their policies too. Like you say it's a balance and they'll have to take that into consideration.

I'm fortunate that Bess doesn't mix with other dogs much, it makes my choice easier, and I understand the dilemma faced by those of you whose animals mix with others. :)

Kath.

Maybe we've been very fortunate, but the only vaccination 'problem' we've ever had in any of my family's dogs was an unvaccinated dog dying from distemper ...

Sorry to hear about your dog Jg. :)

When I said the existing system doesn't work I wasn't meaning that dogs shouldn't be vaccinated or boostered but that folk shouldn't be forced, by existing policy, into something they don't feel is right for their animal.

Kath.

I have emailed my Environmental Health dept with a copy of this letter and asked about the likelyhood of a policy change.  I think I already know what the answer is but it's worth asking.  I'll let you know their reply.

Sally

Fingers crossed for you Sally. :)

Kath.

i have recently had my 2 and 1/2 year old titre tested.  he has had an early parvo at 6 weeks through his breeder, normal course of puppy jabs and then a booster at just over a year.  his readings came back at  very high immunity against parvo and nmoderate to high immunity for distemper and hepatitis.  he had a lepto jab as you cant test for this, but even the effectivenes of this vaccine is questionable.  the price is about £28 and what ever your vet charges for taking the blood and sending it away.  i dont kennel my dogs so do not know if they would accept a titre reading,
kelly

Have to say I agree with this too Kath.

I have not boostered my dogs now for sometime.  3 dogs I have bred have shown varying reactions to their annual boosters/initial puppy vaccinations - resulting in one having to be PTS.   We do not immunise children or ourselves yearly & we live a lot longer than dogs do.   

I agree with you.
But I use homeopathic vaccines.  I know they've not been totally tested (who wants to subject their dog!), but I'd rather use something, and will not give my dogs annual boosters.

Sarah.

I must say that the Lepto jab is a problem:  I've read in more than one report that the immunity given by the lepto vaccination may last only 3 months.    I think it's a major challenge for the analytical services to come up with an antibody titre for Lepto - I don't know why it's technically any different to test for than the others - maybe someone can enlighten me?

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Jo

You can have the titre levels tested for Lepto because I had this done on one of my weimaraners.  Damn expensive though :-(  I've had a few titre tests done in the past, testing the levels of parvo, hepatitis and distemper, cost has been around £45.  The test I got done that included lepto cost me £145 !!!  My vet checked it out and its basically the lepto test that costs the most

One of my weimaraners was diagnosed as a puppy as being immune deficient however given she is 5½ years old and v healthy (touch wood!) there is now doubt that she is infact immune deficient.  My vet is looking into getting her protein levels tested (long and complicated story), we can't risk giving her a MLV so we just give her the lepto jab annually (its a killed vaccine so safer) and use homoeopathic vaccines for the rest.  We were advised by our vet and the drug company that the lepto vaccine probably doesn't last longer than 9 or 10 mths which is why we vaccinate her every year.  When her first titre test was done she had an exceptionally high titre to parvo, high to distemper and nothing at all to hepatitis or lepto.  We will get her titre levels checked again at some point but until her protein levels can be checked there is no point in checking her titre levels.

Interestingly my other weimaraner was given his puppy vaccinations then when a year old I got his titre levels checked, he had NO IMMUNITY to parvo !  Thats scary, especially considering I show him so he's been up and down the country and yet his immune system hasn't been challenged at all.  Needless to say he got a booster and thankfully a further titre test confirmed he had immunity.  Phew!  Possibly his immune system wasn't challenged because many people still vaccinate ?  Or maybe the homoeopathic vaccines work ?  Who knows for sure.

I would be interested to know of anyone who uses homoepathic vaccines and has had titre tests done to check if the vaccines work or not.  :-)

Hi Claire, it`s homeopathic nosodes that are used, not h/pathic vaccines :). The h/pathic principle is to heal & cause no harm, so hence very few studies that are done & the ones that have been are not generally accepted by the conventional medical practitioners. Also nosodes will not show up in titre testing, they just don`t work that way. I`ve posted a link below that explains h/pathy & nosodes :)
[linl]http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nosodes.htm[/link]

Low titre levels does not mean the animal has no immunity, just that its not showing :) Titre tests cannot show up the memory cells which play an important role as well. Also, the majority of vaccines in use nowadays are MLV, these do shed into the enviroment meaning the viruses are continually around. Maybe he`d come across the virus but his body didn`t think it a threat so possibly there was just no need for his antibodies to swing into action?? :D

Christine, Spain.

Sorry yeh I mean't nosodes :D

Blimey, its a minefield, really then is there any point in paying to have titre tests done if they don't show up everything ? Gawd I'm well confused now, will have a look at that link when I get a mo.

Cheers :-)

Not so confused as I am - just off to read the link!

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Hi Claire & Jo, titre testing shows the amount of circulating antibodies, what it can`t show is the role/amount of memory cells :) Science just hasn`t got that far yet :) Memory cells do play an important role, it`s not only antibody levels. Is it worth titring? I think for anybody unsure yes it is, you`ll have peace of mind if you get a good result back, the thing is you`ll be in a dilema if you get a low one back! It is a good indicator & all we`ve got at the mo. I`ve stopped titring now as I believe all the evidence thats been produced & am confident my dogs are immune, the 2 youngest who had the adverse reactions well, for me the risks of vacinating them for anything again is more dangerous than the risk of them catching the disease. It`s not easy I know & you`re right, a minefield!

Christine, Spain.

"nosodes will not show up in titre testing, they just don`t work that way...Low titre levels does not mean the animal has no immunity, just that its not showing"

Hi Christine, tried to think of a nicer way to say this, but I can't - sorry! This makes no sense at all to me, either logical or scientific.

Hi Jas. :)

It means that just because there are no antibodies in the blood, it doesn't mean that the animal isn't immune. Homeopathy most likely works on a deeper level (i.e. the memory cells that Christine mentioned) rather than relying on antibodies constantly circulating. It's like a country's army. Just because the soldiers aren't walking the streets all day doesn't mean that invading countries can overpower us. When there is a threat, Tony Blair (the memory cells!) recognises it and sends out the armed forces (antibodies) but if there's no threat, there are no soldiers on the street (titre test levels low).

I hope that makes sense. :)

Kath.

Great explanation Kath :D :D

Christine, Spain.

OK heres a link that explains them :) Sorry but I`m really busy trying to catch up on everything at home after being away a while & I`ve not had a lot of sleep!!!

http://www.caberfeidh.com/Titers.htm
[linkhttp://www.caberfeidh.com/Nosodes.htm[/link]

Christine, Spain.

ps I`ve put lots of links for articles on vaccs/nosodes/titres/boosters up in the past that I can`t find at the mo but if you do a search on here using to vaccinate or not (or something similar) you should find them :)

The link above :)  http://www.caberfeidh.com/Nosodes.htm

These are some of links that Christine has given in the past :)

http://www.ivis.org/advances/Infect_Dis_Carmichael/schultz/chapter_frm.asp?LA=1
http://www.homestead.com/vonhapsburg/haywardstudyonvaccines.html
http://www.homestead.com/vonhapsburg/vaccines1.html
http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/DrMcCluggage.pdf
http://www.avma.org/policies/vaccination.htm
http://www.danebytes.com/vaccine_article.htm
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/192002.htm
http://www.canine-epilepsy-guardian-angels.com/ImmuneSystem.htm
http://www.cavaliers.co.uk/articles/vaccineprotocols.pdf
http://devinefarm.net/rp/rpvaccin.htm
http://www.weim.net/emberweims/Vaccine.html
http://www.inno-vet.com/articles/2002/0902/02.html