Vaccine Protocol
Veterinary schools are changing protocols for vaccinating dogs and cats due to inability to suppress the truth about ineffective vaccines, duration of immunity, over-vaccination and vaccine risks.June 2006 © TheDogPlace / Some of this information will present an ethical & economic challenge to vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects.
Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well-being should not be a factor in medical decisions.
NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY:
Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted" nor are more memory cells induced.
Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines.
If you value the health and longevity of your dog or cat, we urge you to follow this public information series on the risks of over-vaccination. Parvo, hepatitis, distemper and rabies vaccines have recently been classified as "core vaccines" but there are many other immunization products to which dogs and cats are needlessly subjected or overexposed. The bottom line, core vaccines are proven to protect your pet for a minimum of 7 years! This information has been withheld from the pet owning public for obvious reasons. Read and learn. We begin with excerpts from testimony by Kris L. Christine's February 2005 testimony before the State Of Maine's Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Committee. Kris went on to become the Founder and Co-Trustee of The Rabies Challenge Fund now backed by Dr. Jean Dodds (one of the world's leading veterinary research scientists) and other prominent veterinarians and veterinary universities. Kris's determination, knowledge, and discovery of significant vaccine risks began long before the historical formation of the Rabies Challenge Foundation. (Most)veterinarians have failed to inform clients that most core veterinary vaccines protect for seven or more years, and pet owners, unaware that their animals don't need booster vaccinations more often, have unwittingly given their companions useless booster shots taking an unnecessary toll on their finances and animals' health. The human equivalent would be physicians vaccinating patients against tetanus once every year, two years, or three years and not disclosing that the vaccines are known to be protective for 10 years. For years veterinarians have sent pet owners annual, biennial and triennial reminders for redundant booster shots and justified it with vaccine manufacturer's labeled recommendations. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association's (AVMA) Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6), ..revaccination frequency recommendations found on many vaccine labels is based on historical precedent, not on scientific data [and] does not resolve the question about average or maximum duration of immunity [Page 2] and.. may fail to adequately inform practitioners about optimal use of the product - Page 4. As the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital states it: "booster vaccine recommendations for vaccines other than rabies virus have been determined arbitrarily by manufacturers." Dr. Ronald Schultz, Chairman of Pathobiological Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, is at the forefront of vaccine research and is one of the world's leading authorities on veterinary vaccines. His challenge study results form the scientific base of the American Animal Hospital Association's (AAHA) 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature (Attachment 7). These studies are based on science they are not arbitrary. The public, however, cannot access this data. The American Animal Hospital Association only makes this report available to veterinarians, not private citizens, and Maine's pet owners are unaware that the AAHAGuidelines state 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. So, unless the Legislature passes LD429 requiring veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms, dog owners who receive an annual, biennial, or triennial reminders for booster shots will not know that nationally-accepted scientific studies have demonstrated that animals are protected a minimum of 7 years after vaccination with the distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus-2 vaccines (see Page 12 AAHA 2003 Guidelines attached, and Table 1, Pages 3 and 4). "My own pets are vaccinated once or twice as pups and kittens, then never again except for rabies," Wall Street Journal reporter Rhonda L. Rundle quoted Dr. Ronald Schultz in a July 31, 2002 article entitled Annual Pet Vaccinations may be Unnecessary, Fatal (Attachment 2). Dr. Schultz knows something the pet-owning public doesn't he knows there's no benefit in over vaccinating animals because immunity is not enhanced, but the risk of harmful adverse reactions is increased. He also knows that most core veterinary vaccines are protective for at least seven years, if not for the lifetime of the animal.
The first entry under Appendix 2 of the AAHA Guidelines (Attachment 7) "Important Vaccination Do's and Don'ts is 1. Do Not Vaccinate Needlessly 2. 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. Very few pet owners have had this disclosed to them. The AVMA's Principles of Vaccination (Attachment 6) 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." (Page 2) Referring to adverse reactions from vaccines, the Wall Street Journal article cited above (Attachment 2) reports: "In cats there has been a large increase in hyperthyroidism and cancerous tumors between the shoulder blades where vaccines typically are injected." With modified live virus vaccines (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis), some animals can actually contract the same disease which they are being inoculated against. If the public knew an animal's immunity to disease is not increased by over-vaccination, they would certainly not consent to expose their pets to potential harm by giving them excessive booster shots. Veterinary vaccines are potent biologic drugs - most having proven durations of immunity much longer than the annual, biennial or triennial booster frequencies recommended by vaccine manufacturers and veterinarians. They also carry the very real risk of serious adverse side affects and should not be administered more often than necessary to maintain immunity. The extended durations of immunity for vaccines is not "new" or "recent" science as some members of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) have claimed. AAHA reveals on Page 2 of their Guidelines that ideal reduced vaccination protocols were recommended by vaccinology experts beginning in 1978. A Veterinary Practice News article entitled "Managing Vaccine Changes" (Attachment 3) by veterinarian Dennis M. McCurnin, reports that: "Change has been discussed for the past 15 years and now has started to move across the country." According to a September 1, 2004 article in the DVM veterinary news magazine (Attachment 1), the 312 member Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) champions full disclosure of vaccine information to pet owners. MVMA president, Dr. Bill Bryant, is quoted as stating: "Its time for something like this to come out - disclosure forms will be an important resource to have available, [and] if it goes before the Legislature, we'd likely support it." It is time. Pet owners have the right to know the scientifically proven durations of immunity for the veterinary vaccines given their animals, as well as the potential adverse side effects and benefits. LD 429 would make that standardized information available to all pet owners. Kris continued her powerful testimony with detailed adverse reaction symptoms and advice which should be heeded by all conscientious pet owners:
MODEL CANINE CORE VACCINE DISCLOSURE FORM    Vaccines have played a significant role in enabling animals to live longer and healthier lives. Thorough evaluations of the risks of the disease, and those potentially associated with the vaccine, compared to the benefits of vaccination for the patient, are necessary in crafting optimal health recommendations that include vaccination.    The proper application of vaccines to animal populations has enhanced their health and welfare, and prolonged their life-spans. The risks to animal health from non-vaccination are significant. However, vaccination is a potent medical procedure associated with both benefits and risks for the patient. Adverse events, including some that are potentially severe, can be unintended consequences of vaccination. Because vaccinating an animal which is already immune to a disease does not increase their immunity, but does expose them to the risk of adverse reactions, it is important to avoid over-vaccination. Blood titers can help determine whether an animal's antibody count is at protective levels.  The risks associated with the core canine diseases are as follows: 1. Distemper - high rates of morbidity and mortality from respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological abnormalities; a widespread disease 2. Parvovirus - high rates of morbidity and mortality resulting primarily from gastrointestinal disease; this disease has worldwide distribution; 3. Canine Adenovirus - high rates of morbidity and mortality from liver dysfunction 4. Rabies - nearly universally fatal neurological disease. Infected animals are a potential source for human infection, thus vaccination is mandated by law in most states. The risks associated with vaccination are as follows: Possible adverse events from vaccination include failure to immunize, anaphylaxis, immunosuppression, autoimmune disorders such as hyper/hypothyroidism, polyarthritis, allergies, 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.    Optimal immune responses are obtained by vaccines administered singly three to four weeks apart rather than in combination shots. Single vaccine administration also reduces the likelihood of adverse events as well as increasing the animal's immune response. Only healthy animals should be vaccinated.    Except for the rabies vaccine, manufacturers labeled re-vaccination recommendations are based on limited scientific data and do not contain information on the vaccine,s maximum duration of immunity. If your animal experiences any of the following symptoms after vaccination, you should contact your veterinary care provider immediately:  fever, vomiting, diarrhea, uncontrollable trembling, lack of coordination, seizures or a hard lump at the vaccination site which doesn't disappear after a couple of weeks.
​Puppies receive antibodies through their mother’s milk. This natural protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies & kittens should NOT be vaccinated at LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little protection (0-38%) will be produced.Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first highly effective vaccine. Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the Immune system.
Preferably - A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks apart up to 16 weeks of age.
Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1 year and 4 months will provide lifetime immunity.
The worlds foremost authorities, including Dr. Jonas Salk knew the risks and the benefits over 20 years ago. Vaccines have improved but today's new protocol would never have been achieved were it not for the dedication of people like Dr. Dodds, Kris Christine, and this editor.
Pet Vaccine Lawsuit
It's official -- the law firm of the Chicago lawfirm of Childress Duffy Goldblatt, Ltd. petvaccine@childresslaw.net 312-494-0200 -- attorneys Roy R. Brandys and John Sawin-- has posted an announcement on their website about the NATIONAL pet vaccine class action lawsuit that their firm is undertaking at
http://www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp
"arising from the misrepresentation of the need for vaccinations for your pets."
Anyone wishing to have a copy of either the 1992 French challenge study data from a research team led by Michel Aubert in which dogs were demonstrated to be immune to a rabies challenge 5 years after vaccination, or Vascellari's study which documented cancerous tumors in dogs at presumed injection sites of rabies vaccine, please e-mail me KrisChristine LedgeSpring@lincoln.midcoast.com