Are annual booster vaccinations needed?

mrcol1000

Paradigm wrote: »

Because there are so many variants constantly mutating.



Cholera & Typhoid are bacterial infections, not viral. The body doesn't work the same way with these vaccines & immunity does wear off.

Hepatitus B is a 3 jab initial course with a booster after 12 months &, AFAIA that's it. There is currently no vaccine for Hep c.




With respect, I think you are missing the point. It's not just about money.

Giving Distemper, Parvo & Viral Hep boosters yearly is possibly causing more harm than good... recent studies in the USA have shown that vaccination against the 3 named lasts a "minimum of 7 years, quite likely for the lifetime".

Combining this with the possible risks associated with yearly boosters is the reason that all Veterinary Schools in North America are changing vaccination protocols.

Comparing this with Pet insurance is like comparing chalk & cheese, my 3 dogs are all insured safe in the knowledge that it's doing them no harm whatsoever! All 3 had their puppy jabs but have had no boosters since, the eldest is getting on for 6yo.

All owners will do what they think is right for their pets, quite rightly! I only posted this to enable a discussion into the benefits, or not, of yearly boosters

But did they really say they were bad? Scares over human vaccinations tend to be based on small samples, dodgy data manipulated to prove a point or words of slight worry get taken the wrong way.
I am genuinely intrested to know if vets in the US give year vaccinations or not. Anyone from US on these boards?

dieselhead

I share your concerns about animal vaccinations, there have been cases of cancers at the vaccination site and other reactions, however its should be remembered that most human vaccinations are not for life however other than those listed about Tetanus and ditheria should be given every 10 years, and there is some suggestion that MMR should be repeated too. However having said all the above I have also read that there is a lack of research into the longevity of animal vaccinations as there is no incentive to do so.

Finally I am under the impression that my pet insurance is void if my cat's vaccinations are not up to date.

Paradigm

Interesting article here http://www.dogstodaymagazine.co.uk/lepto.html

snowman2_2

Most of the main brands of dog vaccines now have vaccine intervals for Parvo, Distemper and Infectious Hepatitis of 3 or 4 years so after a first full booster, the next distemper vacc will be in several years time. Currently bordatella (kennel cough), leptospira and parainfluenza (another form of kennel cough) are annual boosters and most vets will use this schedule now. This way we maintain protection in the general population without over vaccinating - but we have to base this schedule on long term safety trials.
Secondly, you cannot relate information from the US with UK vaccines, they are different and they have different diseases and problems over there. You can relate most European vaccines and info as they are the same vaccine with pan-european licences.
A lot of insurance policeis request up-to-date vaccines but this should include an important health examination.
Thirdly, the only disease we vaccinate humans, dogs and cats against in the UK is Rabies and currently the vaccine interval is 3 years for humans and 3 years for cats & dogs. You cannot compare the immunity for polio with cat flu or tetanus with parvo. They are different diseases with differences in vaccine induced immunity.
Finally, if you have ever seen a dog with parvo or leptospira, you wouldn't doubt the benefits of vaccination. Have a chat with your vet at health check time, I can quite quickly and simply justify my vaccine schedule.

dieselhead

Just thought I would clarify my point as I'm not sure that I was clear, I appreciate the human vaccinations are different from animal ones and the point I was actually making was that unlike many peoples perceptions many human vaccinations are not for life in the same way many animal vaccinations need repeating at regular intervals. However from what I have read (correct me if I'm wrong) that there is little incentive for drugs companies to test the length of protection offered by many vaccines.

I will always vaccinate my pets though having had a cat who's previous owners did not and by the time I had her it was too late and she died from feline HIV.

tiamai_d

My dog gets a booster every year, but not the same ones. Some he gets every 2 or 3 years. He gets kennel cough and some other one yearly (no idea what it's on his card anyway). He also gets a full check up, weighed, teeth checked etc. As he is, so far *touch wood* healthy and I do my own worming/flea programme at home, it's the only time he sees the vet. I'm happy for this to continue, both for the boosters and the check up.

From what I can see they are changing how the vaccinate, by making some every second or third year, this will continue to change with more research, but until that time I will take the risk of over vaccinating as opposed to under vaccinating.

marshallka

They can't check my dogs teeth from inside the muzzle.:eek: If he has the cage one on he does smile nicely (showing his pearly whites) lol.

I read that some are ok 3 yearly and also the vets association (or someone like that) is in debate. Don't know how true this is though. It was on another site.

Kimberley

It was on the News a few weeks back that many Veterinary Practices are seeing a big drop in people getting their pets annual boosters and putting their pets at risk especially outdoor cats. We will soon see in a few years some very nasty pet illnesses appearing due to pets not being vaccinated but I guess these owners who decide not to vaccinate will just have their beloved pet PTS instead of paying out in Vet fees.

Oldernotwiser

My dogs have their vaccinations because kennels require it but our cats don't once they're grown up. We have between 4 and 6 rescue cats at a time and have done so for over 20 years and we've never had any of them catch anything.

If you only have one pet the cost is low but if you have this many it mounts up. I'd rather spend the money on adopting another cat.

louisebt

I have 3 dogs here, only 1 is currently covered by full vaccs and thats only because he's just turned 1... I let him have his first 2 injections. I almost lost one of my dogs to vaccine damage a few years ago, he was 2 1/2 and suffered a bad reaction, after that vets wanted him on steroids for life, he put on 2 stone in little over 2 weeks. Now he cant eat dog food, cant have anything from a vet except the odd wormer and he is now 7 1/2.... I use homeopathy on him, i am qualified to do so, having done a course so I could fix any little problems myself. I cook daily for all my dogs as dog foods dont really have a great nutritional content and my guys are all fit and well.. as you can see......