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.