Myth of the yearly vaccine

Myth of the yearly vaccine I think most of my clients have caught on to the trend in veterinary medicine to reduce the frequency of vaccinations for common viral diseases. When I started practicing it was standard to vaccinate dogs and cats yearly for both rabies and distemper combo vaccines. The vaccine companies listed annual re-vaccination on the labels but this was arbitrary timing as there had been insufficient study to show a longer duration of protection. As time went on the research showed that we had great protection up to at least 3 years. This is after a puppy series and first year shots. The experts had felt confident as early as the late nineties that we could start the 3-year protocols in cats. All of the veterinary schools then went to the 3 year intervals in dogs not long after. As soon as I saw the new recommendations were backed by science and well-respected study groups deemed them a standard, I changed the protocols at South Beach Animal Hospital from every year down to every 3 years. Many vets followed suit but many clung to the old protocols for reasons I don't like to think about. This is all old news for most but if your vet is still selling you annual vaccines for distemper/parvo/FVRCP etc. you need to challenge this. If your vet doesn't agree then ask why every vet school in the country has adopted the three-year protocols. Keep in mind there are a few circumstances in which a yearly vaccine is needed. Some countries and municipalities don't recognize the 3-year rabies so if you travel with your pet you may need yearly rabies. This does not apply to bordetella, lyme or Feline leukemia vaccine. Those are still given yearly. By the way, Indoor cats shouldn't need leukemia vaccine but should still get the 3 year distemper vaccine. Beware the corporate hospitals that frequently sell every possible vaccine every year including those most vets don't even carry. I feel badly for folks that go to these clinics to save money but get taken on procedures the pet doesn't need. I'll finish here dispelling the myth of the yearly vaccines. See the next blog about a blood test for vaccine efficacy called Antibody titer testing. Is your vet selling this to you?