This from Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM. — while it pertains primarily to small animals the same can be concluded for horses:
——————————————————————
————————————
The truth about pet vaccines?
————————————
Does your pet need vaccinations every year?
What is the truth about pet vaccines?
Vaccinations work by stimulating the immune system. The positive effect is to protect against infectious disease.
But there are risks, as well.
The way vaccines are given is to inject either one of two types:
(1) killed (KILLED), or (2) ‘Modified’ (non-pathogenic) Live Virus (MLV). The vaccine sensitizes the immune system to that particular virus – or in other words, the vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies to that virus. Thereafter, if your dog or cat is exposed to the virus, he will be able to respond quickly, producing antibodies to overcome the infection before it takes hold.
Conventional Approach
The conventional approach is to get annual ‘booster shots’, in the belief that vaccines only provide immunity for approximately one year, and that revaccination is required in order to boost or maintain a pet’s immunity.
This has been the advised protocol of Veterinary Associations for decades, and most veterinarians still follow this protocol.
However, there is a growing body of evidence against vaccinating yearly. It has been shown that many vaccines do provide a much longer period of immunity, up to the lifetime of the pet, and that revaccination is not required annually.
Most veterinarians still advise annual boosters. They choose to ignore the new research because they still feel either the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks or that they do not want to lose the income from giving booster shots to all those animals each year.
A point to note is that many of the annual revaccination recommendations for a particular vaccine come from the manufacturer of the vaccine, not from the Veterinary Associations in particular (although a revaccination recommendation must be qualified by the association).
But the situation is changing, if slowly. From the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association): “While there is evidence that some vaccines provide immunity beyond one year, revaccination of patients with sufficient immunity does not necessarily add to their disease protection and may increase the potential risk of post-vaccination adverse events.”
Most Veterinary Schools (in North America) are in the process of changing or have already changed their advised vaccine protocols to a reduced regimen – so there is hope for the future.
Side Effects
The potential negative effect of vaccination can be one of a host of immune related diseases, including immune mediated hemolytic anemia, immune mediated skin disease, vaccine induced skin cancer, skin allergies, arthritis, leukemia, inflammatory bowel disease and neurological conditions, to name a few.
It is more and more common to see cancer in dogs and cats under
5 years of age. Autoimmune diseases are on the rise as well.
There are links to most of the common chronic health diseases of dogs and cats due to over-vaccination.
The reasoning behind this is that when a vaccine is injected, the immune system becomes ‘over-taxed’ and responds inappropriately.
It may turn and attack itself, as in the event of autoimmune diseases, or even attack the site of the injection. We see the evidence clearly in cats with the incidence of injection site sarcomas, or with dogs, the worsening of inhalant allergies after vaccination.
The list of potential problems is exhaustive. With conventional vaccines, while trying to strengthen a pet’s immune system, we are actually making them weaker.
Our companions are suffering from generations of over-vaccination, which combined with inadequate nutrition, poor breeding practices and environmental stresses are leaving each generation more susceptible to congenital disorders and chronic disease.
In truth, vaccinations can help prevent serious illnesses, but they should be used with caution. Before vaccinating your pet, consider the risk.
If your cat is indoor-only and will never be exposed to unvaccinated animals, the risk of infection is low.
The decision about vaccinations is an individual one and should be guided by your own research on the subject before you go to your veterinarian.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////
P.S. Let’s take for example the ‘Kennel Cough’
Vaccine. Kennels make it MANDATORY before boarding, under the false belief that it will PREVENT Kennel Cough. BUT…in the words of Veterinary immunologist Ronald Schultz, ” kennel cough is not a vaccine preventable disease.”
It is caused by a combination of viruses, bacteria, Mycoplasma, stress, molds, dust…
SO it may be protective if the’ right’ strain goes by.
But likely not.
My point here is that you are given the vaccine under the assumption that it will prevent disease in your dog.
And as Dr Schultz says…it’s not preventable.
To find out what vaccines I advise, including a Vaccine Schedule, go here:
——————————————————————————-
