Policy on Small Animal Vaccination


Policy:

AVA supports the vaccination of cats and dogs for disease prevention. Vaccines and protocols selected for an individual animal should be based on overall health status and infection risk rather than routine annual booster vaccinations.

Background:

Recommendations for vaccination protocols in companion cats and dogs have undergone significant changes in recent years. The assumption that annual booster vaccinations should be administered to every cat and dog has been challenged. As veterinarians, we need to be informed and aware of all options available to clients in this regard.

Guidelines:
  1. Only healthy animals should be vaccinated.
  2. Vaccination reactions, both immediate and delayed do occur. All such reactions need to be reported to the appropriate authority.
  3. Puppies and kittens do require repeat vaccinations as per manufacturers' recommendations up to the age of approximately 15 months of age.
  4. Regular antibody titre testing of adult animals can provide assistance in determining appropriate vaccination intervals.
  5. Where possible, monovalent vaccines should be used.
  6. Owners should be made fully aware of their choices regarding vaccination, including new information pertaining to the necessity or otherwise of repeat boosters throughout the adult animal's life.



[ close this window ]