"Results of this study do not support the contention that vaccine site-associated sarcomas are as common as has been suggested….Such information could possibly convince those who might otherwise decline vaccinations for their pets to reconsider."

Philip H. Kass, DVM, Ph.D., dipl. ACVPM
University of California
Study Published in The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, May 15, 2002. World Wide Web-based survey of vaccination practices, postvaccinal reactions, and vaccine site-associated sarcomas in cats. Gobar, Glenna, DVM and Philip Kass, DVM, PhD.

"By boosting the effectiveness of killed vaccines, adjuvants reduce dependence on modified live vaccines, which have the potential to induce the disease they are designed to prevent. In most cases, the adverse effects of adjuvants are mild, with the benefits of adjuvant use outweighing the hazards."

James A. Roth, DVM, M.S., Ph.D., dipl. ACVM
Iowa State University
Study Published in The Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, May/June 2003. Adjuvants in Veterinary Vaccines: Modes of Action and Adverse Effects. Spickler, Anna R. and James A. Roth.

"Annual vaccination and wellness exams have gotten us to a point where we don’t see infectious disease at the levels we once did. Since annual vaccination is the gold standard, the decision becomes choosing this over whatever’s being proposed as the alternative. We can’t lump all species together and all immune responses together…we don’t vaccinate people every year so why do we vaccinate cats every year? Well, the fact is that cats and dogs are being raised and maintained in very different environments from the way they evolved. People are constantly getting free boosters to a whole variety of things in their natural environment. Animals are being raised in isolation."

John Ellis, DVM, Ph.D., dipl. ACVP, ACVM
University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
AAFP Meeting, 2/25/02

Additional References:

Paul, Michael A. DVM et al. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. Report of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) Canine Vaccine Task Force: Executive Summary and 2003 Canine Vaccine Guidelines and Recommendations. March/April 2003.

Klingborg, Donald J. DVM et al., JAVMA. AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ report on cat and dog vaccines. Vol. 221, No. 10, November 15, 2002.

Suggested Readings:

Legendre, Alfred M., DVM, MS., et al., JAVMA. Comparison of the efficacy of three commercial feline leukemia vaccines in a natural challenge exposure. Vol. 199, No. 10, November 15, 1991.

Ek-Kommonen, et al., The Veterinary Record. Outbreak of canine distemper in vaccinated dogs in Finland. October 11, 1997.

Olson, P., et al., The Veterinary Record. Outbreak of canine distemper virus vaccinations in dogs. December 20-27, 1997.

McCaw, Dudley L., DVM et al., JAVMA. Serum distemper virus and parvovirus antibody titers among dogs brought to a veterinary hospital for revaccination. Vol. 213, No. 1, July 1, 1998.

Lappin, Micheal R., DVM et al., JAVMA. Use of serologic tests to predict resistance to feline herpesvirus 1, feline calicivirus, and feline parvovirus infection in cats. Vol. 220, January 1, 2002.

Larson, L.J., DVM. And R. D. Schultz, Ph.D. AJVR. Comparison of selected canine vaccines for their ability to induce protective immunity against canine parvovirus infection. Vol. 58. No. 4, April 1997.

Tizzard, Ian, B.V.M.S., Ph.D. Veterinary Forum. Science vs. surmise in decisions on vaccination frequency. January 2002.

Duval, David and Urs Giger. JVIM. Vaccine-associated immune-mediated hemolytic anemia in the dog. Vol. 10, No. 5. September-October, 1996.

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