More is not more, especially when you're talking about vaccination.
Kris Christine is an unlikely activist: After her dog developed a mast-cell tumor at the site of a rabies injection, she started to do research on overvaccination. Her relentless lobbying evenutally prompted her state to change its rabies vaccination requirement from annually to every three years.
Not one to stop at her state line, Kris was also instrumental in creating the Rabies Challenge Fund, which will bankroll vaccine trials to prove that the rabies vaccine is effective for as long as seven years.
And now, Kris sends the following email urging concerned dog lovers to oppose a New York State bill that would require annual vaccination against a battery of diseases -- even when canine epidemiologists recommend vaccinating every three years for many of them, and not at all for others. (See my recent story about canine vaccination.)
<< Greetings All!
May 5, 2006
Greetings Senators and Assemblypersons:
I am writing to strongly urge you to vote NO on Senate Bill S02164 and Assembly Bill A04253 which would legally mandate that New York boarding kennels and grooming facilities require proof of vaccination “against distemper, hepatitis, para influenza, leptospirosis, parvo and bordetella during the previous year” for dogs and “against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus,or feline panleuopenia within the past year” for cats engaging their services.
Requiring proof of annual vaccination with vaccines with much longer proven durations of immunity is ill-advised and reckless – it would put companion animals at needless risk of adverse reactions without their boosting immunity and incur unnecessary expense to their owners. Veterinary medical schools do not recommend annual booster vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and feline panleukopenia, so why would the New York Legislature introduce bills that do? It would be akin to requiring New York
The core canine distemper, hepatitis, and parvo vaccines (see Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines by Dr. Ronald Schultz http://www.cedarbayvet.com/duration_of_immunity.htm) have demonstrated durations of immunity beyond 7 years. The American Animal Hospital Association’s (AAHA) 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines (http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm) states on Page 18 that: “We now know that booster injections are of no value in dogs already immune, and immunity from distemper infection and vaccination lasts for a minimum of 7 years based on challenge studies and up to 15 years (a lifetime) based on antibody titer.” They further state that hepatitis and parvovirus vaccines have been proven to protect for a minimum of 7 years by challenge and up to 9 and 10 years based on antibody count.
The first entry under Appendix 2 of the AAHA Guidelines (http://www.leerburg.com/special_report.htm) “Important Vaccination ‘Do’s and Don’ts” is “Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly – Don’t revaccinate more often than is needed and only with the vaccines that prevent diseases for which that animal is at risk.” They also caution veterinarians: “Do Not Assume that Vaccines Cannot Harm a Patient – Vaccines are potent medically active agents and have the very real potential of producing adverse events.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA’s) Principles of Vaccination (http://www.avma.org/issues/vaccination/vaccination.asp) states that “Unnecessary stimulation of the immune system does not result in enhanced disease resistance, and may increase the risk of adverse post-vaccination events.” (page 2) They elaborate by reporting that: “Possible adverse events include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders, transient infections, and/or long-term infected carrier states. In addition, a causal association in cats between injection sites and the subsequent development of a malignant tumor is the subject of ongoing research.”
Perhaps New York
In an April 3, 2006
Annual Vaccinations May Harm Your Pet (http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-adcova4687741apr03,0,3250447.column?coll=ny-rightrail-columnist, one of the world’s leading experts on veterinary vaccines, Dr. Ronald Schultz, is quoted as follows regarding vaccine labels: "The label means nothing," Schultz says simply, noting that vaccines licensed for one year and three years are often the same product. "The label has an arbitrary and capricious annual revaccination requirement, and it takes an act of Congress to take it off" - literally. Schultz says the Department of Agriculture has applied to remove the language, a legislative process that he estimates will take seven years.
On Page 5 of the 2000 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (http://www.aafponline.org/resources/practice_guidelines.htm (click on “Feline Vaccination Guidelines”), they state under “Feline Panleukopenia” that “Both serologic and challenge exposure data indicate that a parenteral FPV vaccine induces immunity that is sustained for at least 7 years. Therefore, following the initial series of vaccinations and revaccination 1 year later, cats should be vaccinated no more frequently than once every 3 years.”
Again, I urge you all to VOTE NO on SB02164 and A04253. If you have any questions or would like me to e-mail you a full copy of the AAHA Guidelines, please e-mail me.
Respectfully submitted,
Kris L. Christine
Alna , ME 04535
cc: Dr. W. Jean Dodds
Dr. Ronald Schultz>>
Comments (28)
Emailed and done.
Thank you for this- everyone in NY should email re this.
Lydia
It's about time. I see Dr. Jeanne Dodds' name mentioned here. This veterinarian has been studying vaccines and immunology for over 25 years. I have some of her published work. The harm these multiple vaccinations can do are often hard to "pick up" because sometimes it's quite insidious. It took some very bright people studying patterns over many years,.
This is frightening. Consider that if we get the law changed to require disaster shelters to accept our pets, don't be surprise if the beaurocrats decide that every animal coming in be given one of theose 6-in-1 combo wombos. And imagine if your animal is elderly or not too well to begin with. Whenhe or she dies from the shots it would just be blamed on their age. The vets I worked for many years ago used to sell people the whole load of shots on very animal being hospitalised with the lie that it would "protect" the pet, but they knew full well that if a vaccine does work it takes up to a couple of weeks. And usually the animals were given the "shots" right before they went home.
Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs
The Sacramento Council of Dog Clubs sponsored their 26th Annual Symposium on February 4, 2006 at the Foothill Community Center in Sacramento. California
The morning session's topic was "The Latest Protocol on Canine Immunization" by Niels C. Pedersen, DVM; PhD. Dr. Pedersen has been a faculty member at U.C. Davis since 1972. In 1993, he became the Director of the Center for Companion Animal Health and since 1998 he has been the Director of the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Dr. Pedersen has published over 200 research articles on canine genetics. He has long been an advocate against the abuse of routine vaccinations in dogs and cats and he has been instrumental in changing the amount of vaccinations given to dogs and cats.
There are three categories of vaccines:
Core
Distemper
Parvo
Hepatitis
Rabies Optional
Kennel Cough
Lepto
Lyme
Not Recommended
Corona
Giardia
Rattlesnake Venom
Initial puppy vaccinations should begin at 6 weeks and end at 16 weeks. This will give the widest amount of protection as all puppies have unique immune systems. There should be four shots given at 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks. A booster plus rabies should be given one year after the last shot or at 16 months. After this full round, a booster can be administered every three years! Live vaccines are the best, then modified live and then killed. Any reactions to puppy shots should be charted. Allergic reactions are hives or a small bump at the site. Acute facial swelling can also occur. Most of these reactions can be controlled by Benedryl, if the pup has reacted, it doesn't necessarily mean that he/she will again. If there is concern, give the pup 1/10 of the second shot then wait 30 minutes. If the pup reacts again, consult your vet. "Vaccination is a Medical and not an Economic procedure". "Make your vet justify what he/she is doing by medical criteria. If they can't, they do not know their Medical Facts". This is a direct quote from Dr. Pedersen's lecture!
Thank you Diana ! There is a very old Vet textbook (Kirks) that goes back DECADES and in it they say that yearly boosters are not medically indicated, they are a means to "ensure" that people bring their pets in for annual physicals.
I work at a specialty vet hospital where thankfully we aren't involved with vaccines and I still have clients telling me that they bring their dogs to the primary vet for "all his shots every year". We ask about vaccines on the intake form (rabies is a separate question because of the NY State law)but there's no policy of an animal not being admitted without the shots. Besides, if an animal is SICK, giving it vaccinations is downright malpractice.
When I was a lot younger I worked for 2 different vets and they gave people the line about mandatory shots "to protect the dog while it's in the hospital" When I'd ask later don't the shots take some time to take "effect" I'd get silence or an embarrassed acknowledgement. And then the animals would get the boosters right before they went hom
and that was because they had charged the owners for them. That's something that always bothered me very much and it was all a crock (plus probably bad for the animals) and I wouldn't be surprised if it's not still being done a lot of places. People need to educate themselves because we are responsible for our creatures .
Denise,
Thank you so much for posting this information. At her last rabies shot, our 10-year old Pembroke Welsh Corgi had a very huge lump at the site where they gave her the shot. I called the vet's office and was told that for that "lot" of rabies shots, that is the side effect that smaller dogs tend to have. I was told it would go away in four-six weeks. I thought it was unusual and was uneasy about it. After two weeks, with the lump not decreasing in size, I took her in to have the lump aspriated to make sure it is not cancerous and for our peace of mind. Luckily, it turned out fine, but she had the lump for about six weeks. My gut feeling is this couldn't have been good for her. That experience made me more conscious about shots and from now on will research any shots the vet proposes giveving her.
And it hits NYS- my mom got a renewal form today for our Newf who is not due till Sept for annual shots- they say either get them now and renew license for a year - or pay now, wait till Sept when due and get shot and then pay again.
Nickel and diming on our animals.
The Vet said no prob- do not pay and he will NOT get shots before due.
The state cares more about money than the health of the animals-what a crime and shame on them.
So NY'ers be aware if you get this notice that comes at renewal time which is now- DO NOT get your animal vaccinated before they are due because the state threatens-call your vet.
I think that you can get a note from your vet, especially if the animal is elderly or sick, that he/she believes that the shot is contradidicated for that animal for health reasons. At least in NY
Lydia, where in NYS are you. I'm in Flushing, just renewed our licenses and didn't get such a notice. That is very strange.
The Vet is sending note -that's my point to you all- do NOT get animal vaccinated nor pay and pay again in Sept. Call Vet first and do't get frantic like my mom did.
Diane- Long Island- mom in Cedarhurst- could be village thing thru NYS?
If they get enough flak from vets and owners maybe they'll have to rethink this whole idiocy.
Today was Good Shepherd Sunday, and it is a wonderful image to hold in mind while we are waiting and praying for these babies. Whether looking at Psalm 23 or the Gospel of the Good Shepherd, both are a wonderful reminder of the reckless love of God for creation. (Shepherds, good ones that is, would literally lay across a break in the rocks and let their flocks pass over them to safety.) We have to believe that God holds that same love for our "lost ones"... and for us.
In a modern musical setting Bob Duford S.J. wrote:
"Like a Shepherd, He feeds his flock, and gathers the lambs in his arms---Holding them carefully close to His Heart, LEADING THEM HOME."
Ever vigilant Shepherd of us all, hear our prayers for Vivi, Biggie, Sniffles, and all the lost and abandoned ones. Hold them near Your heart and bring Vivi, Biggie, and Sniffles to the families who love them. Bring all the lost and abandoned ones to families of their own so that they may know love and home. Accept our praise for the healing you are doing in Madison, Dante, and Murphy. Put one of your angels in charge of racing with Thunder until Heaven is home. Welcome all the weary whose journey leads them to Paradise tonight. Watch over us and protect us so that we do not become lost in the unimportant things of the world. Remind us of your call to us as caretakers of animals and your creation. Bless the efforts of Vivi's angels as they post and search-- often fighting troubles of their own, to do Your will in this matter.Give them Your angels to keep them strong and safe. Strengthen our faith in You as a result of this experience, regardless of our faith expression. May all of us human and animal alike sleep well tonight knowing---YOU ARE IN CHARGE! Amen.
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