This site is constantly updated
I thought you guys might like a little news about what's happening with
vaccines and the AVMA.
I was speaking at the AVMA convention in Salt Lake City last week and
noticed a 4 hour 'panel' discussion changing vaccine practices. As it
turns out, the panel was the official investigation and policy maker for
the AVMA, as it prepares to issue a statement in 2002. They were looking
for feedback from the audience (approximately 200 veterinarians from around
the country as well as vets and reps from the vaccine industry).
On the one hand, it wasn't really newsworthy because the veterinarians who
attended were clearly those already interested in the issue - a biased
audience. On the other hand, it was a big crowd, and most were already
changing their practices so that they were using vaccines every 3 years.
All reported that this change had not caused any more disease, and that
they were still making a living (as you know, the monetary issue seems to
be a big one for many veterinarians).
There is general suspicion of titers, since the information gained by using
them is nonspecific and can't guarantee immunity, but I still like them for
the time being.
I stood up to make a comment that the moderator also seemed to
appreciate -
veterinarians need to know that vaccines are safe but come with some
risk -
not like injecting water as my friend Jean Dodds says. The label says they
are for use in healthy animals, and this doesn't mean you just stick a pet
with vaccines because they are there with another problem. This is
CRITICAL!
An industry rep got up to say that veterinarians need to decide where they
want the companies to spend research money - on developing new products, or
on determining maximum duration of immunity? The general consensus was that
maximum duration of immunity studies will never be done - they're too
expensive - so new vaccine intervals will continue to be guesswork (just
like the yearly intervals were guesswork).
One final comment - it should be clear that money is an issue - vets are
scared of not making a living (remember - we make less than most plumbers,
and not nearly as much as any M.D. with whom we share lengthy educations
and student loan obligations). Also, the industry is doing all of the
research, and doing it on spec. If you guys are serious about supporting
change, assure your vet that you trust him or her, and that you will
continue to show up for yearly check-ups, necessary medical care like
dentals when appropriate, etc. Don't complain when service fees go up
because vaccine fees have disappeared - this is GOING to happen and is
long overdue. And if you have LOTs of extra money, consider making
earmarked donations to independant research organizations like the Morris
Animal Foundation, AVMA Foundation, or even the AHVMA which has a small
research fund.
I am going to place my bet here. The AVMA will use fuzzy language but
clear the way for customized vaccination according the pet's actual risk,
and in general endorse other's use of 3 year vaccine schedules (like
Colorado State, Cornell, Texas and the AAFP). It's a start, considering
this is THE national organization that speaks for the country's 60,000
veterinarians.
Clearly, getting the profession to say that vaccines are all bad and
shouldn't be used won't happen. I'm more sensitive than most veterinarians
to this issue, and I still don't believe they are 100% bad. I also know
that there are many on this list with more extreme viewpoints. Still,
hope this gives you cause for optimism - although your local vet may not
know it, times they are a changin!
Susan G. Wynn DVM, CVA
mammoth list of links | abap.org | healthy.net | cyberpet | sarcomas in cats and vaccines avma | k9health |
blakkatz/click on vaccination | altvetmed | Vaccine immune system | Col. State | poochnetm | vaccinations |
vaccination discussion group | VACCINATIONS | VACCINE INDUCED SARCOMA | vaccination myth | nosodes alternative-Dr.Pitcairn | Dr.Charles Loops nosodes |
vaccinations warnings "On the contrary research suggests that no dog over the age of 7 years of age derives benefit from the annual vaccine programme. Furthermore, those animals submitted to the annual boosters, go on to display exacerbation of joint related ills in later life." | feline-sarcoma-vaccination | ||||
Dodds-vaccination | vaccination AIHA | immune canines | fenixresearch vaccinations | commentary on feline vaccinations Leahy | superior article from critterhaven |
too many too often Dr.Dunn | VAFSTLF-Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force | haywoodstudy | rabies | new diagnostic for vaccinating cats | article by Don Hamilton |
"At Preston Road Animal Hospital, we do not routinely vaccinate dogs with certain disorders" | Long-Term Immunity To Virus Challenge In Cats Vaccinated With Trivalent Vaccine study | Risk Of Feline Infectious Peritonitis In Cats Naturally Infected With Feline Coronavirus | vaccination sarcoma and aloe | excellent articles re vaccinations | vaccinations Dr. Susan Wynn |
feline guidelines re vaccination | vaccines-immune suppression | homeopathic vaccinations-nosodes | vaccination sarcoma and aloe | ||
concerns re immunization | Concerns about immunisation | marvista-vaccinations |