Be
Informed About Vaccine
"We have to change our focus from
yearly vaccination to that of a yearly physical."
-- Dr. Fred Scott, Professor of Virology and Director of the
Cornell Feline Health Center in "Are We Vaccinating Too
Much?" Journal of American Veterinary Medical
Association, 1995.
"Clients Should Be Informed About
Vaccine Use. There are legal and professional reasons to adequately
inform clients about the vaccines practitioners use in their
patients. Clients should be informed about the relative benefits
and risks of vaccine use. They also should understand that vaccination
does not guarantee protection and they should be informed about
the potential adverse effects of vaccines. In general, clients
should receive sufficient information to enable a reasonable
person to reach an informed decision regarding an animal's medical
care."
-- “Vaccination Issues of Concern To Practitioners,”
Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association,
April 1, 1999.
"The final decision concerning individual
vaccines to be administered should be based on risk and benefit
assessment by the client and the vet."
-- Small Animal Vaccination Protocol,
Colorado State University, College of Veterinary Science.
Clearly,
there are responsible voices within the veterinary profession
calling upon practitioners to kick their annual-vaccination-shot
economic habit and to properly inform guardians about the benefits
and dangers of vaccine use. A glance at the dates of the above
articles show how little vets have listened, despite the clarion
character of the calls.
What
should be done?
1. The veterinary associations should launch a public information
campaign, advising all companion-animal owners of the three-year
rabies vaccination option. Advertisements in local newspapers
across the country as well as print and broadcasting public-service
announcements are suggested at a minimum.
2. Vets should answer client-guardians’
questions about vaccinations and the vet’s vaccination
policies – questions such as those listed in the questionnaire
found elsewhere on this website.
3.
The veterinary associations must make non-notification by vets
of the three-year vaccination option subject to suspension and/or
revocation of license. Investigations should be made of known
situations by the vet societies and state vet boards in the
light of day -- with no gag orders or secrecy - to determine
a resolution of the situation and to impose sanctions and penalties
where appropriate as a deterrent.
4. At vaccination time an Informed Consent
Notification form would verify that the vet has discussed the
issues of vaccination with the client-guardian. The Informed
Consent form would be signed by the vet and include the guardian's
initials, affirming that he or she has been informed of the
following by the vet:
• The potential side effects and adverse reactions of
the vaccine relative to the benefits.
• What are the vaccination options (three-year versus
one-year) and the pros and cons of each.
• Which vaccines are medically necessary for the pet's
health and which are not necessary based on the latest research.
The original copy of the Informed Consent Notification form
would be kept by the owner/guardian and a copy would be kept
by the veterinarian.
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