COMPILED BY THE VACCINATION GUIDELINES GROUP (VGG) OF THE WORLD SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION (WSAVA)

The WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) was convened in order to develop guidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats that have global application.The VGG acknowledges the valuable foundation to their deliberations provided by the recent canine and feline vaccine guidelines from the United States of America (USA).The VGG recognises that the keeping of pet small animals is subject to significant variation in practice and associated economics throughout the world, and that vaccination recommendations that might apply to a developed country, may not be appropriate for a developing country.Despite this, the VGG strongly recommends that wherever possible ALL dogs and cats receive the benefit of vaccination.This not only protects the individual animal, but provides optimum ''herd immunity'' that minimises the likelihood of outbreak of infectious disease.With this background in mind, the VGG has defined core vaccines which ALL dogs and cats, regardless of circumstances, should receive.Core vaccines protect animals from severe, life-threatening diseases which have global distribution.Core vaccines for dogs are those that protect from canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus (CAV) and canine parvovirus (CPV).Core vaccines for cats are those that protect from feline parvovirus (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV) and feline herpesvirus (FHV).In areas of the world where rabies virus infection is endemic, vaccination against this agent should be considered core for both species, even if there is no legal requirement for routine vaccination.The VGG recognises that maternally derived antibody (MDA) significantly interferes with the efficacy of most current core vaccines administered to pups and kittens in early life.As the level of MDA varies significantly between litters, the VGG recommends the administration of three vaccine doses to pups and kittens, with the final of these being delivered at 16 weeks of age or above.In cultural or financial situations where a pet animal may only be permitted the benefit of a single vaccination, that vaccination should be with core vaccines at 16 weeks of age or above.The VGG supports the development and use of simple in-practice tests for determination of sero-conversion (antibody) following vaccination.Vaccines should not be given needlessly.Core vaccines should not be given any more frequently than every three years after the 12 month booster injection following the puppy/kitten series.The VGG has defined non-core vaccines as those that are required by only those animals whose geographical location, local environment or lifestyle places them at risk of contracting specific infections.The VGG has also classified some vaccines as not recommended (where there is insufficient scientific evidence to justify their use) and has not considered a number of minority products which have restricted geographical availability or application.The VGG strongly supports the concept of the ''annual health check'' which removes the emphasis from, and client expectation of, annual revaccination.The annual health check may still encompass administration of selected non-core vaccines which are generally administered annually.The VGG has considered the use of vaccines in the shelter environment, again recognising the particular nature of such establishments and the financial constraints under which they operate.The VGG minimum shelter guidelines are simple: that all dogs and cats entering such an establishment should be vaccinated before, or at the time of entry, with core vaccine only.Where finances permit, repeated core vaccination should be administered as per the schedules defined in the guidelines.The VGG recognises the importance of adverse reaction reporting schemes but understands that these are variably developed in different countries.Wherever possible, veterinarians should be actively encouraged to report all possible adverse events to the manufacturer and/or regulatory authority to expand the knowledge base that drives development of improved vaccine safety.These fundamental concepts proposed by the VGG may be encapsulated in the single strap-line:We should aim to vaccinate every animal, and to vaccinate each individual less frequentlyGuidelines for the vaccination of dogs and cats 17485827, 2007,

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