Vaccination Protocols changes in Australia.
Everything pet owners need to know about changes to the vaccination protocols in Australia
A lot of pet owners may have been told by their Vet that their dog will be receiving a vaccine booster every 3 yrs to cover everything but Kennel Cough, rather than the traditional annual booster. But, why has this change occurred? As we all we know, with most therapies (vaccinations included) there are often a few side effects which infrequently occur. With respect to vaccinations, these side effects are usually local to the injection site, and of no concern. However, in saying this, they still occur, and shouldn’t be dismissed.
There is no question that the benefits of protecting your pet with vaccinations far outweigh any risk of adverse reactions. However, it was proven that with some vaccines, the same immunity or protection could be achieved with a longer delay between vaccinations. In other words, research proved that the immunity (your pet’s internal defence mechanism against viruses, bacteria, etc) which developed as a result of being vaccinated, lasted as long as 3-7 yrs, rather than the previously presumed 12mth time period. However, the question was asked:
"Wouldn’t it be better to vaccinate as infrequently as possible to reduce potential side effects, yet maintain the immunity required to protect your dog?"
And so, research was done, and new vaccine formulations emerged and continue to do so, which accommodate for a change in the vaccination frequency from one to 3 years. This is of course only related to specific vaccines, in particular the C3 component of your dog’s standard annual booster. Now, in saying all of this, you need to remember that the regularity in which your dog is vaccinated, is relative to 2 major factors:
- The Vaccine Type and Formulation
- The Lifestyle and Health Status of your pet
The Vaccine Type and Formulation
Most vets are comfortable changing their protocols, when they feel enough research has been done to prove the change is both safe, and beneficial to the welfare of your dog. For most practitioners, the only change which has been implemented thus far, is to vaccinate dogs with their standard vaccine (C3 – everything but Kennel Cough) every 3 yrs, rather than 1 yr. In other words, you still need to come in for an annual kennel cough injection and health check, but the full vaccination is only given every 3 yrs. Don’t forget, however, that this is only applicable to vaccine brands which have been formulated to be given every 3 yrs, not vaccines that are designed to be given once a year.
The Lifestyle and Health status of your pet
The other factor which plays a role in your vets decision over the frequency in which they choose to vaccinate your dog, is lifestyle and health status. Vaccines work by stimulating an immunological response, thereby forming a defence against the disease agent. If your dog is unwell, or immuno-suppressed, they are unlikely to develop an adequate response, and the vaccine loses it’s effectiveness. Additionally, from a lifestyle perspective, if your dog is an outdoors dogs, regularly attends the dog park, and goes into boarding, then this will also dictate the frequency in which your vet chooses to vaccinate your dog. My advice would be to have a candid conversation with your Vet about this change to the vaccination protocols. And remember, there is no hard and fast rule here. It depends upon the individual dog, their lifestyle, the vaccine being used, and the health status of your pet. The decisions are best left in the capable hands of your Veterinarian
Dr Ben Willcocks