Received:

Veterinary groups around the world have introduced new vaccination schedules in response to duration of immunity studies and concerns over vaccine safety.  The Pet Welfare Alliance supports these guidelines and welcomes a reduction in the number of vaccine antigens given to companion animals.  The aim of this letter is to practically support these aims by asking you to effect change in line with the current established science and guidelines provided by those veterinary bodies. 

The Pet Welfare Alliance is an alliance of pet owners and veterinarians formed as a watchdog for the pet products industry.  Pet vaccination is one of the foremost areas in need of revision, and we believe that recent developments pave the way for positive change.     

It is often believed that annual vaccination is a requirement to establish immunity and that it does no harm.

With the advent of updated science and guidelines by world veterinary bodies there are clear guidelines to adhere to, that dispell the myth that annual vaccination is necessary, beneficial in providing any further protection in already immune animals, or without risk of causing harm.  Details of vaccine adverse reactions can be found in the WSAVA guidelines (see links below) that range from mild (fever, loss of appetite etc), to severe/life-threatening (epilepsy, arthritis, AHA, organ failure).

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines state: 

"Core vaccines should not be given any more frequently than every three years after the 12 month booster injection following the puppy/kitten series, because the duration of immunity (DOI) is many years and may be up to the lifetime of the pet. In order to ensure the existence of duration of immunity, titer testing may be used."   Ronald D Schultz, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin; Member of WSAVA and AAHA vaccine guideline groups

"Only one dose of the modified-live canine 'core' vaccine (against CDV, CAV-2 and CPV-2) or modified-live feline 'core' vaccine (against FPV, FCV and FHV), when administered at 16 weeks or older, will provide long lasting (many years to a lifetime) immunity in a very high percentage of animals ([Schultz, 1998], [Schultz, 2000] and [Schultz, 2006])."

In its 2013 puppy vaccine summary, the WSAVA adds: "The WSAVA states that we should vaccinate against the core diseases no more frequently than every three years. This is often taken to mean that we should vaccinate every three years - but this is not the case. If the dog is already immune to these three core diseases, re-vaccinating will not add any extra immunity."

The WSAVA new puppy owner guidelines can be found at:
http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/New%20Puppy%20Owner%20Vaccination%20Guidelines%20Updated%20July%2029%202013.pdf

And the full guidelines at:
http://www.wsava.org/sites/default/files/VaccinationGuidelines2010.pdf

The WSAVA on non-core (optional) vaccines (2013)

Leptospirosis

"Vaccination should be restricted to use in geographical areas where a significant risk of exposure has been established or for dogs whose lifestyle places them at significant risk"

"Protection against infection with different serovars is variable. This product is associated with the greatest number of adverse reactions to any vaccine. In particular, veterinarians are advised of reports of acute anaphylaxis in toy breeds following administration of leptospirosis vaccines. Routine vaccination of toy breeds should only be considered in dogs known to have a very high risk of exposure"

Kennel Cough

"Canine respiratory disease complex (kennel cough) is not a vaccine-preventable disease"

"you should check with your kennel because some will demand kennel cough vaccines, and others will not accept dogs that have been vaccinated against kennel cough (due to shedding)"

Essentially, the kennel cough vaccine datasheets warn that vaccinated dogs can develop a mild case of kennel cough. Although said to be mild, vaccinated dogs can infect other dogs with kennel cough. Again, this vaccine is deemed optional by the WSAVA. 

The WSAVA on Titer Testing:

"The WSAVA supports the use of titre testing. This is where a small sample of blood is taken from the dog and checked for the presence of circulating antibodies. The presence of circulating antibodies indicates that the dog is immune, and revaccination (with core vaccines) is not required. You may decide to titre test before giving the 12 month booster, as this may show that boosting is unnecessary. New in-practice titre-testing kits are now available which will allow your veterinarian to do a titre test very quickly, without sending the blood sample to a laboratory"

The only reliable way of knowing whether a dog is immune is to ascertain whether the dog has antibodies to the core diseases.  Vaccination in itself does not offer a guarantee of protection.

"A dog with active immunity to CDV/CPV-2/CAV will not develop disease regardless of its physical state! Even a puppy with MDA with a titer considered protective can not become infected/diseased. We have demonstrated that experimentally. In nature it occurs frequently in Shelters where we have severe outbreaks of CPV and/or CDV. We routinely test titers of incoming dogs. If they are adult dogs with titers we put them in with diseased dogs and they never develop disease! That is one of the advantages of the rapid on-site tests like VacciCheck, as we don't have to isolate dogs with detectable titers!!" Ronald D Schultz, Ph.D., Professor and Chairman, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin; Member of WSAVA and AAHA vaccine guideline groups.

The UK Kennel Club on vaccination:

Health and Breeder Services manager Bill Lambert said "there are a number of ways in which breeders could choose to protect or immunise their animals"

"While vaccination is a commonly used method, the KC would wish to make clear there is no blanket requirement for members of the ABS [Assured Breeder Scheme] to use conventional vaccination either annual or otherwise"

We asked Mr Lambert to incorporate the WSAVA guidelines into their policy, and at the time of writing he informs us that,  "it has been decided that the wording of the advice sheet template for assured breeders will be changed. Once this has been done it will be submitted to the Dog Health Group and General Committee". You can contact Mr Lambert with any queries about the Kennel Club guidelines on vaccination: Bill.Lambert@thekennelclub.org.uk

Vet Waiver

Vaccine data sheets state "not for use in an unhealthy/immune compromised animal" or similar. Vets should be able to provide a letter of waiver of the requirement to be vaccinated on the grounds of health issues to avoid adverse reactions.

The Dog World

The Pet Welfare Alliance has written to all UK veterinary practices and included details of the new in-practice VacciCheck titer test and arranged a discount for them with the supplier. Letters have been sent to local authorities, boarding establishments, breed/breed rescue clubs/societies, training clubs, breeders, charity/rescue, and pet insurers in the UK, asking them to incorporate the current scientific guidelines into their policies.

Proposal

The Pet Welfare Alliance would ask that your club/society:

Incorporate the WSAVA guidelines into your policy so:

a)     That annual vaccination is not a requirement
b)    That the accepted period of vaccination for core vaccines should be no more frequently than every three years, and that protection can be lifelong
c)     That proof of a titer test showing that re-vaccination is not required is acceptable in place of blind re-vaccination
d)    That the Leptospirosis and Kennel Cough non-core (optional) vaccines are not a requirement
e)     A letter from the animal owner's vet to waiver the requirement of vaccination due to health issues, is acceptable in place of blindly re-vaccinating
f)     A letter from the animal owner's vet to waiver the requirement of vaccination due to alternative methods of protection/immunisation, is acceptable in place of blind re-vaccination

This letter is now available on the Pet Welfare Alliance website (along with letters to all the other types of establishments) so that the public have access to this, with the aim of enabling long-overdue change.

Currently the WSAVA is working to educate veterinary surgeons with regard to the latest science, and many pet owners are choosing not to over-vaccinate their pets and risk vaccine adverse effects. Quite frequently the requirement to provide proof of annual vaccination is preventing pet owners from following the known science whilst protecting their pets against unnecessary suffering. 

We hope very much that you will incorporate these proposals into your vaccine policy and we would be only too pleased to help if you have any questions.

We would be grateful if you are able to confirm that you have adopted these proposals into your policy as we also like to publicise and make available information on our website for the public and relevant establishments alike in order to promote good practice.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine O'Driscoll
www.petwelfarealliance.org

Afraid I will NEVER take a scare monger like Catherine O'Driscoll seriously. But also as regards this:

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association Vaccination Guidelines state:

"Core vaccines should not be given any more frequently than every three years after the 12 month booster injection following the puppy/kitten series, because the duration of immunity (DOI) is many years and may be up to the lifetime of the pet.

it mentions kittens as well as puppies. Well you CANNOT show a cat in the UK under the GCCF unless the cat is boostered every year. It cannot be more than 7 days overdue.

Proposal

The Pet Welfare Alliance would ask that your club/society:

Incorporate the WSAVA guidelines into your policy so:

What on EARTH are they talking about? I certainly am not about to ask for no vaccinations for cat shows, and we don't need them for dog shows, nor do I know of any dog club that has as a rule that members must vaccinate!

My views on Catherine O'Driscoll are identical to Goldmali's, after she went to print saying that if an animal becomes ill with any condition within 6 months of a vaccination it should be considered a possible adverse reaction to the vaccine, That of course is total rubbish - unless your dog lives in a plastic bubble.

>Leptospirosis
>"Vaccination should be restricted to use in geographical areas where a significant risk of exposure has been established or for dogs whose lifestyle places them at significant risk"

That's the whole of the UK, especially at the moment with all the flooding. Leptospirosis dies down in a drought - it thrives in wet conditions.

Mine have been on a 3-yearly booster schedule for over 3 years now.   I talked to my vet about this because I've always been concerned about the need for annual boostering.   She agreed, but told me that it was best practice still to booster annually against lepto which does 'dip' over a 12 month period.  This I do.

Mine were fully vaccinated as puppies, with a full booster 12 months on.

I was considering getting titres checked, but decided against this.

So far, so good.    And in the past, I have usually stopped boostering by around 7 years feeling if they weren't covered by then, they'd never be.   Local Parvo outbreaks allowing.   Mine don't go into Boarding Kennels - I have somebody sit.   But  did phone one local Kennels who said they'd accept mine, on a 3 yearly schedule.

I brought my 14 year old for her booster not long ago and my vet said there shouldn't be any need to booster at her age EXCEPT for leptospirosis.

I've carried out a regime of vaccinating every three-five years for quite a long time now:  the only time a problem arises is if we've had to put the dogs into kennels - which demand to see current vaccination certificates.

I have never understood why veterinary science has demanded annual vaccinations - we do not vaccinate our children on an annual basis.

Mine don't get boosters, only the puppy course.  What bothers me about the whole thing the most is the insistence by so many vets on double-boostering dogs that have gone "overdue" when it is completely and utterly unnecessary, and not supported by any science at all.

Nikita, my vet gave Daisy a single, Parvo only jab just the other week, after having no inoculations for five years, so some vets are bucking the trend.

I have had the same but as the customer I insisted a booster was a booster no matter the interval.

But you can't booster immunity if the dog is already immune. Animals are receiving vaccinations unnecessarily, we don't need a Polio jab every year or even every 3 years. So why do animals ?
There is a significant amount of scientific research now showing that the core vaccines last for up to 7 years and sometimes for life.
There is a new in-house  titre testing system now available at a number of vets  Vaccicheck it costs about £25 and takes about 20 minutes, if you get a positive result then your dog is immune and does not require vaccinating against that disease.
There is no point putting unnecessary chemicals into your dog or cat and over vaccination has been linked to serious diseases.
When yearly vaccination first came in nobody knew how long immunity would last so the drug companies decided on a year which coincided with the yearly health checks, something that vets are very reluctant to give up.
But a yearly health check and titre test could be done and vaccination tailored to the actual needs of the animal. If a dog has been titre tested and shown to be immune I can not see why that should not be accepted by Boarding Kennels, but very often there hands are tied by outdated Local Authority Licensing laws.
Surely animal owners should be able to decide what protocol suits them best and to make their own decisions accordingly.
Nobody wants to see the spread of disease, but dogs with proven immunity could not catch the disease anyway.

I wouldn't have had Daisy done at all but there have been Parvo outbreaks quite close to us, and I got paranoid lol.

How accurate is titre testing now a days ?.
I have had it done, many years ago, but from what I read at the time, it was reportedly, not that accurate, and your dog could be tested as having low, or no immunity, when in fact they were still covered.

When I was younger we didn't have all this yearly boosting. It was never mentioned.
You got a puppy and had it vaccinated - end of story. I was told to get them a booster if there was a bad outbreak of disease or if I moved to a different area with , probably, different strains of bugs around.
I can't really remember when this yearly booster was first mentioned to me

The worst thing is the vets try to make you feel like the worst owner ever if you dare challenge any of their recommendations.

Just to add that we have mainly lived out in the sticks, much as disease can always be brought into an area.   I dropped off boostering by around 7 years (again) but had a tacit agreement with my then vet, out in Canada, that if Parvo reared it's ugly head locally, he'd give me a heads-up and I'd wheel my lot in.   That never happened.

When I enquired about titre testing (I knew of one breeder who'd do all her puppies before their initial external vaccination to see what was needed - expensive!) over here, and in an area where there are loads of dogs, including those coming in from all over the UK with their holidaying owners, not only was the cost high (yes, I know, cost again but I was quoted £60?) it's not totally reliable.   As I understand it.  

>I can't really remember when this yearly booster was first mentioned to me

The annual vaccinations I believe from what I have read started in the UK in 1978.

>it's not totally reliable.

It is reliable for viruses, hence why Rabies titre testing is/was used for Pet Travel to ensure vaccine had taken.

It's vaccination 'taking' (seroconversion) that can be variable/unreliable.

This is why I can't understand the need for a blood test (the waiting period after a positive titre test I enver understood) being dropped for pet travel around EU and low risk third countries.

I am not an expert but as I understand it with the new Vaccicheck system you either get a positive or negative result.
The immunity levels go up and down depending on if the dog has been exposed to the disease. But according to Dr Shultz who is the world leading authority and done the most research into the subject if you get  positive result then your dog is immune to the disease and does not require a booster.
Here is a link that can hopefully explain better than I can.
http://vaccicheck.com/considerations/
Some Companion care vets (situated in Pets at Home Stores) are offering Vaccicheck for about £25 also I have heard a vets in the Bristol Area Watkins and Tasker also offer the service.
The cost of each testing kit is approx. £12 to the vet but they have to buy a box of 10. Some vets are stocking it if you can get a group of people together or if owners have quite a number of dogs.

CompanionAnimals/Canine/TiterCHEK-CDV-CPV-TiterTesting/96-0460-RoundTableDiscussion.pdf
http://www.synbiotics.com/Products/CompanionAnimals/Canine/TiterCHEK-CDV-CPV-TiterTesting/96-0460-RoundTableDiscussion.pdf
This answers some questions about vaccination.

This is a link to the UK Supplier of Vaccicheck  They may be able to give details of vets who stock it in your area.

http://www.woodleyequipment.com/uk-veterinary/immunology/immunocomb-vaccicheck-antibody-test-kit-464-164-1271.php

Some of you may not be aware that your Vets already use a scaled-down vaccination program. Check your vaccination cards and it will show if yours do or do not by what they have given. e.g. Lepto2 and Pi yearly and then every third year: Lepto2 and DHPPi. If in doubt, it costs nothing to ask the next time you are in for boosters.

Also remember thr new lepto 4 that they are now using.

>Some of you may not be aware that your Vets already use a scaled-down vaccination program. Check your vaccination cards and it will show if yours do or do not by what they have given. e.g. Lepto2 and Pi yearly and then every third year: Lepto2 and DHPPi. If in doubt, it costs nothing to ask the next time you are in for boosters.

Yes, that is what my vet has been doing for several years now.  He does tell me when I take a dog in, but I don't take too much notice, as it's entered on the dogs record card anyway.  And having a lot of dogs he knocks off 20% for me.

This is an interview with Dr Shultz who has done more research over a lifetime into canine immunology, and knows more about the subject than any living person on the planet. His research is all well documented and carried out at a university in the USA He has been involved in developing the Vaccicheck system.
Warning The video is quite long.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xd5ghnlJ4