The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7295 p466
17 April 2004

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British Veterinary Association (www.bva.co.uk)

Annual vaccination for animals is still appropriate, says BVA

Animals should still be vaccinated annually, the British Veterinary Association has said, despite a debate that has raged within the veterinary profession over the past three months.

The debate began with the publication of a letter in the Veterinary Times calling for the policy of annual vaccinations in dogs and cats to be stopped. The 31 veterinary surgeons who signed the letter claim that annual boosters for some vaccinations are not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful. Many letters followed, some supporting the 31 vets and others criticising them.

A letter from Martin Ilott, head of immunologicals at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, the Government agency responsible for issuing marketing authorisations for veterinary products, stated: “For the majority of currently authorised cat and dog vaccines in the UK, revaccination intervals of one year are recommended, although we are starting to see an increasing number of products with extended duration of immunity claims for some antigens.”

Whether or not the annual vaccination policy should be changed is a difficult question to answer. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate told The Journal that it was a matter for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the regulatory body for vets. The RCVS said that it was a matter for the British Veterinary Association, the representative body for vets.

“We still do not know enough about the true duration of immunity in individual animals but we do know enough to be able to say that not all vaccines necessarily provide lifelong protection. The degree of immunity can vary greatly between different individuals,” a BVA spokeswoman explained.

Animals could be tested to determine their level of immunity, the spokeswoman added. “If, after consultation with their veterinary surgeon, a client decides that they wish their pet to have less frequent vaccinations, we are happy for the vet to do so — this represents informed consent on the part of the owner.”