Veterinary medicine is constantly changing and advancing, and one area of recent change is in vaccine protocols.

What is a Vaccine?
A vaccine is a suspension of infectious organisms used to induce immunity in the receiver. It provokes a primary immune response in which the body forms antibodies to the disease organism, as well as memory cells which will recognize the disease if the animal is exposed to it again.

These memory cells enable the animal to produce a more rapid response the next time the disease is encountered. This is what is meant by immunity.

Vaccine Protocol
Until recently, most veterinarians followed manufacturer’s recommendations for annual vaccines. There are few studies that actually quantify how long immunity lasts from any given vaccine.
Annual vaccinations are done based on precedent and USDA regulations.

Short-term studies done by vaccine producers are now showing that some vaccines (rabies, for instance) provide at least three years of protection.

Dr. Ron Schultz with the University of Wisconsin has been studying rabies immunity for several years. He has found immunity up to seven years after vaccination, and believes that most vaccines probably provide immunity for anywhere from seven to fifteen years.

Is Annual Vaccination Necessary?
Some practitioners have been questioning for a while whether we are over-vaccinating our pets. Vaccines are available for many diseases, and not all of them are necessary or even all that effective.

There is also some evidence that vaccines can contribute to autoimmune disease, cancer and suppression of the immune system.

On the other hand, vaccines do offer protection from a number of highly contagious and usually deadly diseases.

The evidence both for and against vaccinations, or at least unquestioned annual vaccinations for everything possible, is sketchy.

Other Components of Vaccines
In addition to the disease organism in the vaccine, vaccines are composed of a carrier agent, preservatives and in some case an adjuvant – a substance that causes the body to produce a stronger response.

The adjuvant used in rabies and feline leukemia vaccines are suspected of contributing to increased instances of tumors at the vaccine sites. For this reason, adjuvant free vaccines are now being offered.

Any vaccine can cause an adverse reaction. These reactions can be anaphylaxis, suppression of the immune system, autoimmune disease, infection and long-term carrier status.

Older animals and animals whose immune system is already compromised are most at risk.

Vaccines Don't Always Protect
No vaccine is one hundred percent effective. Some animals may not produce a response.

In puppies, the mother’s antibodies can interfere with the vaccine antigen and actually neutralize the effect. This is the most common reason for vaccine failure.

When the vaccine fails and the animal is exposed to the disease, they usually get a mild form of that disease.

Change in Vaccine Schedules
In order to reduce the risks associated with vaccines, many doctors are now using more conservative protocols in their practices.

All the doctors that I spoke to said they evaluate each animal’s risk before determining what vaccines to give and when. All believe that “less is more”, that is give the fewest shots possible, while providing adequate protection for that animal’s lifestyle.

Some vaccines are considered core vaccines. These are for diseases that are the most prevalent in the environment and that cause the most serious infections.

For cats the core vaccines are feline viral rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), feline panleukopenia (FVP), feline calcivirus (FVC) and rabies.
For dogs the core vaccines are parvo, distemper and rabies.

All of these vaccines can now be given at three-year intervals, after the initial puppy/kitten series. Most vets will give the rabies one year and the other combined vaccines the following year. Each vaccine is given at a different location as well.
Some holistic vets take an even more conservative view when it comes to vaccines. For example, they may us only a Parvo/distemper vaccine for dogs, with a separate bordetella/parainfluenza (kennel cough) vaccine if the animal is to be boarded.

Many will not vaccinate any more often than three years, and are willing to accept longer intervals if the client prefers.

They also may prefer to not vaccinate senior animals, (dogs over eight or cats over ten years old); sick animals or those scheduled for or recovering from surgery.

Test for Immunity
If you would prefer not to vaccinate your animal, and would like to know if he or she still has immunity, you can do what is called a titer test.

This can test for either the disease or immunity to the disease. Therefore it is important to be sure you request a “vaccine antibody” or “vaccine titer” test to test for immunity. These tests are sometimes accepted in lieu of a rabies vaccine for at-risk animals.

Do-it-Yourself Vaccination Has Risks
If you are going to get your pets vaccinated, my sources suggest that you rely on your vet for the shots, rather than purchasing them elsewhere and giving them yourself. The quality of the vaccine available to the consumer may be lower, the type of vaccine may not be the best (that is live/killed/attenuated virus), or they may not have been stored properly. It is not worth the increased risk for the few dollars you might save.

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