YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post - Taking The Risk Out Of Puppy Shots (A MUST READ from Dogs Naturally!)

pstinard · 03-28-2016, 07:54 AM

I highly recommend the PDF article on international vaccination standards co-authored by Dr. Schultz that I linked above (with the warning about graphic photos). It probably includes everything I'm going to summarize below, and it's not behind a paywall. Here is my summary of the article co-authored by Dr. Schultz that I mentioned in my first post to this thread. This article also reaches the same conclusions as the Dogs Naturally article posted by Wylie's Mom. The core vaccinations typically give immunity lasting for at least 7 years in most dogs. However, more studies are needed to determine whether recommendations should be changed.

CANINE VACCINATION, by Craig E. Greene, DVM, MS, Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, and Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS. VETERINARY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA: SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE. VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 3 • MAY 2001

[..]

Annual administration of polyvalent vaccine implies that each vaccine antigen, whether of bacterial or viral origin, in each polyvalent product induces the same degree of immunity for the same duration in every patient. Immunologically, this is irrational. Depending on the vaccine and based on the results of controlled challenge studies, dogs derive protective immunity that persists for as little as a few months to as long as 7 or more years. Convenience rather than science seems to be the driving force behind conventional recommendations listed on vaccine "labels" (product inserts). [..] Studies to establish the maximum duration of immunity that would meet USDA guidelines are not economically feasible.

The recommendation that virtually all canine vaccines be administered annually to adult dogs has been embraced by the veterinary profession for many years. Interestingly, however, for most vaccines administered to dogs today, there are no scientific studies at all establishing a 12-month duration of immunity. Vaccine efficacy studies for most vaccines in use today challenged vaccinates just 3 to 4 weeks after the last inoculation. The paradigm that adult dogs and cats require annual boosters for all the commonly administered vaccines is being challenged. We simply cannot continue to arbitrarily administer vaccines without regard for the number and type of vaccine antigens in the product and without realistic consideration of the risk of infection facing the individual animal.

CANINE DISTEMPER

[..] In puppies, distemper vaccination is performed at 3- to 4-week intervals, with the earliest inoculation being given when the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks of age. Most distemper vaccines used in North America today overcome maternal immunity by the time puppies are 12 weeks of age. Vaccination in puppies is usually continued until they reach 16 weeks of age. Dogs older than 12 weeks of age at the time they are presented for initial vaccination should receive at least two canine distemper virus (CDV) inoculations 2 to 3 weeks apart. The minimum duration of immunity, as determined by challenge, to attenuated (MLV) CDV is at least 7 years for vaccines using the Rockport strain of CDV, although that for vaccines using the Onderstepoort strain is at least 5 years.

INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS (CANINE ADENOVIRUS INFECTION)

Vaccination for canine adenovirus infection, the cause of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), is usually done in combination with that for distemper and other diseases beginning when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks of age. [..] Vaccination for ICH is typically combined with that for CDV. The initial vaccines can be administered when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks of age and every 3 to 4 weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age. Although booster inoculation is recommended annually in adult dogs, challenge studies have demonstrated that the duration of immunity is at least 7 years when attenuated CAV-2 is used as the vaccine antigen.

[The summary for Bordetella states that the vaccine only gives immunity for 7 to 12 months.]

CANINE PARVOVIRAL ENTERITIS

[..] Recommendations for use of these potent parvoviral vaccines are a complete series beginning at 6 weeks of age. Repeat vaccines are given every 3 to 4 weeks until dogs are 16 weeks old despite the fact that some products have label claims of protection by 12 weeks of age. The last inoculation should be given at 16 weeks of age for breeds such as Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers, which have been identified as being poorly responsive to CPV vaccination. In the absence of maternal immunity, where pups are presented after 16 weeks of age, one MLV CPV-2 inoculation may be sufficient for protection against parvoviral infection. Vaccination with MLV CDV with concurrent CPV-2 vaccination does not cause immunosuppression as has been observed in coinfection with virulent CPV-2 virus. Alternating between distemper and parvoviral vaccines in young puppies on a weekly or longer interval is thus not needed or recommended. [..]

Duration of immunity of MLV CPV-2 vaccines is several years (at least 7 years based on challenge studies), and overvaccination is a consideration. The duration of immunity subsequent to administration of inactivated (killed) CPV products has been shown to protect puppies from challenge for at least 16 months after vaccination.25 Under field conditions, dogs may be partially protected by weaker MLV or inactivated products yet still boost their immunity when exposed to virulent virus.

CORONAVIRAL INFECTION

Most vaccines licensed for canine coronavirus (CCV) are inactivated canine coronaviral or feline coronaviral strains. One attenuated (MLV) canine coronaviral product exists. Manufacturers recommend that two doses of vaccine be given 2 to 3 weeks apart beginning in puppies at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with the last one being given at least after 12 weeks of age. The vaccines seem to be safe; however, allergic reactions may occur more commonly when inactivated coronaviral vaccines are combined with leptospiral bacterins. To avoid potential interactions, CCV vaccine could be used in puppies between 6 and 9 weeks of age, and Leptospira vaccination could be instituted thereafter. Otherwise, the clinician may prefer to decide whether or not it is important or necessary that both products be administered.

CCV challenge studies are not indicative of "protection" since it is not possible to produce experimental disease in dogs over 12 weeks of age. Furthermore, manufacturer recommendations to administer CCV booster vaccines annually are difficult to justify based on the fact that CCV does not cause disease in adult dogs. [..] The routine and frequent use of CCV vaccine in dogs is difficult to rationalize. [..] CCV vaccine is considered to be among the least important vaccine antigens given to dogs today, however, and has been identified by several authors as a vaccine that, quite simply, is not needed.

LEPTOSPIROSIS

Most leptospiral vaccines for dogs contain inactivated serovars of canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae. Vaccination with these products is not recommended in animals less than 9 weeks of age because of the aller- genic nature of these products. [..] Although postvaccination titers often decline to undetectable levels, unpublished challenge studies suggest that immunity in some dogs is sustained for 1 year. [..]

Leptospiral vaccines have been considered optional by veterinarians in many areas because of the perceived low incidence of the disease, short duration of immunity, and risk of postvaccinal hypersensitivity. [..]

RABIES

Rabies vaccines have been extremely effective in reducing the preva- lence of this disease in dogs. As a result, the prevalence of human disease has decreased substantially, although the relative prevalence of feline rabies has increased in the United States. In most countries, inacti- vated (killed) vaccines are used. Inactivated virus vaccines have been shown to provide a minimum duration and level of immunity compara- ble to those of MLV products. They often contain high viral content and potent adjuvants, however, which can sometimes produce acute or chronic hypersensitivity reactions. An avipoxvirus-vectored recombinant rabies vaccine that produces minimal inflammatory reactions has been licensed for use in cats. A single rabies vaccine is generally administered in animals 3 to 4 months of age. A second dose should be administered 1 year after the first dose regardless of the dog's age. Subsequent boosters are required every 1 or 3 years thereafter as mandated by state law or local statutes.

CONCLUSIONS

New technologies for vaccine development and infectious disease diagnosis are likely to be introduced in the near future. With this new technology comes the opportunity to vaccinate companion animals against even more infectious agents than is currently practiced in the United States today. As we look forward, it becomes particularly important to review current vaccination standards applied to dogs with respect to current knowledge of duration of immunity (Table 2), awareness of the incidence and likelihood of injurious or even fatal adverse events associated with vaccination, and individual risk factors that dictate which vaccines are most appropriate at which stage of life.

03-28-2016, 07:54 AM	#9
pstinard YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA Posts: 3,648	I highly recommend the PDF article on international vaccination standards co-authored by Dr. Schultz that I linked above (with the warning about graphic photos). It probably includes everything I'm going to summarize below, and it's not behind a paywall. Here is my summary of the article co-authored by Dr. Schultz that I mentioned in my first post to this thread. This article also reaches the same conclusions as the Dogs Naturally article posted by Wylie's Mom. The core vaccinations typically give immunity lasting for at least 7 years in most dogs. However, more studies are needed to determine whether recommendations should be changed. CANINE VACCINATION, by Craig E. Greene, DVM, MS, Ronald D. Schultz, PhD, and Richard B. Ford, DVM, MS. VETERINARY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA: SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE. VOLUME 31 • NUMBER 3 • MAY 2001 [..] Annual administration of polyvalent vaccine implies that each vaccine antigen, whether of bacterial or viral origin, in each polyvalent product induces the same degree of immunity for the same duration in every patient. Immunologically, this is irrational. Depending on the vaccine and based on the results of controlled challenge studies, dogs derive protective immunity that persists for as little as a few months to as long as 7 or more years. Convenience rather than science seems to be the driving force behind conventional recommendations listed on vaccine "labels" (product inserts). [..] Studies to establish the maximum duration of immunity that would meet USDA guidelines are not economically feasible. The recommendation that virtually all canine vaccines be administered annually to adult dogs has been embraced by the veterinary profession for many years. Interestingly, however, for most vaccines administered to dogs today, there are no scientific studies at all establishing a 12-month duration of immunity. Vaccine efficacy studies for most vaccines in use today challenged vaccinates just 3 to 4 weeks after the last inoculation. The paradigm that adult dogs and cats require annual boosters for all the commonly administered vaccines is being challenged. We simply cannot continue to arbitrarily administer vaccines without regard for the number and type of vaccine antigens in the product and without realistic consideration of the risk of infection facing the individual animal. CANINE DISTEMPER [..] In puppies, distemper vaccination is performed at 3- to 4-week intervals, with the earliest inoculation being given when the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks of age. Most distemper vaccines used in North America today overcome maternal immunity by the time puppies are 12 weeks of age. Vaccination in puppies is usually continued until they reach 16 weeks of age. Dogs older than 12 weeks of age at the time they are presented for initial vaccination should receive at least two canine distemper virus (CDV) inoculations 2 to 3 weeks apart. The minimum duration of immunity, as determined by challenge, to attenuated (MLV) CDV is at least 7 years for vaccines using the Rockport strain of CDV, although that for vaccines using the Onderstepoort strain is at least 5 years. INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS (CANINE ADENOVIRUS INFECTION) Vaccination for canine adenovirus infection, the cause of infectious canine hepatitis (ICH), is usually done in combination with that for distemper and other diseases beginning when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks of age. [..] Vaccination for ICH is typically combined with that for CDV. The initial vaccines can be administered when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks of age and every 3 to 4 weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age. Although booster inoculation is recommended annually in adult dogs, challenge studies have demonstrated that the duration of immunity is at least 7 years when attenuated CAV-2 is used as the vaccine antigen. [The summary for Bordetella states that the vaccine only gives immunity for 7 to 12 months.] CANINE PARVOVIRAL ENTERITIS [..] Recommendations for use of these potent parvoviral vaccines are a complete series beginning at 6 weeks of age. Repeat vaccines are given every 3 to 4 weeks until dogs are 16 weeks old despite the fact that some products have label claims of protection by 12 weeks of age. The last inoculation should be given at 16 weeks of age for breeds such as Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers, which have been identified as being poorly responsive to CPV vaccination. In the absence of maternal immunity, where pups are presented after 16 weeks of age, one MLV CPV-2 inoculation may be sufficient for protection against parvoviral infection. Vaccination with MLV CDV with concurrent CPV-2 vaccination does not cause immunosuppression as has been observed in coinfection with virulent CPV-2 virus. Alternating between distemper and parvoviral vaccines in young puppies on a weekly or longer interval is thus not needed or recommended. [..] Duration of immunity of MLV CPV-2 vaccines is several years (at least 7 years based on challenge studies), and overvaccination is a consideration. The duration of immunity subsequent to administration of inactivated (killed) CPV products has been shown to protect puppies from challenge for at least 16 months after vaccination.25 Under field conditions, dogs may be partially protected by weaker MLV or inactivated products yet still boost their immunity when exposed to virulent virus. CORONAVIRAL INFECTION Most vaccines licensed for canine coronavirus (CCV) are inactivated canine coronaviral or feline coronaviral strains. One attenuated (MLV) canine coronaviral product exists. Manufacturers recommend that two doses of vaccine be given 2 to 3 weeks apart beginning in puppies at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with the last one being given at least after 12 weeks of age. The vaccines seem to be safe; however, allergic reactions may occur more commonly when inactivated coronaviral vaccines are combined with leptospiral bacterins. To avoid potential interactions, CCV vaccine could be used in puppies between 6 and 9 weeks of age, and Leptospira vaccination could be instituted thereafter. Otherwise, the clinician may prefer to decide whether or not it is important or necessary that both products be administered. CCV challenge studies are not indicative of "protection" since it is not possible to produce experimental disease in dogs over 12 weeks of age. Furthermore, manufacturer recommendations to administer CCV booster vaccines annually are difficult to justify based on the fact that CCV does not cause disease in adult dogs. [..] The routine and frequent use of CCV vaccine in dogs is difficult to rationalize. [..] CCV vaccine is considered to be among the least important vaccine antigens given to dogs today, however, and has been identified by several authors as a vaccine that, quite simply, is not needed. LEPTOSPIROSIS Most leptospiral vaccines for dogs contain inactivated serovars of canicola and icterohaemorrhagiae. Vaccination with these products is not recommended in animals less than 9 weeks of age because of the aller- genic nature of these products. [..] Although postvaccination titers often decline to undetectable levels, unpublished challenge studies suggest that immunity in some dogs is sustained for 1 year. [..] Leptospiral vaccines have been considered optional by veterinarians in many areas because of the perceived low incidence of the disease, short duration of immunity, and risk of postvaccinal hypersensitivity. [..] RABIES Rabies vaccines have been extremely effective in reducing the preva- lence of this disease in dogs. As a result, the prevalence of human disease has decreased substantially, although the relative prevalence of feline rabies has increased in the United States. In most countries, inacti- vated (killed) vaccines are used. Inactivated virus vaccines have been shown to provide a minimum duration and level of immunity compara- ble to those of MLV products. They often contain high viral content and potent adjuvants, however, which can sometimes produce acute or chronic hypersensitivity reactions. An avipoxvirus-vectored recombinant rabies vaccine that produces minimal inflammatory reactions has been licensed for use in cats. A single rabies vaccine is generally administered in animals 3 to 4 months of age. A second dose should be administered 1 year after the first dose regardless of the dog's age. Subsequent boosters are required every 1 or 3 years thereafter as mandated by state law or local statutes. CONCLUSIONS New technologies for vaccine development and infectious disease diagnosis are likely to be introduced in the near future. With this new technology comes the opportunity to vaccinate companion animals against even more infectious agents than is currently practiced in the United States today. As we look forward, it becomes particularly important to review current vaccination standards applied to dogs with respect to current knowledge of duration of immunity (Table 2), awareness of the incidence and likelihood of injurious or even fatal adverse events associated with vaccination, and individual risk factors that dictate which vaccines are most appropriate at which stage of life.