Boehringer donates 60,000 rabies vaccines to Puerto RicoSeptember 27, 2019Residents of Puerto Rico will soon be better protected from rabies transmission, thanks to Boehringer Ingelheim.
SPONSORED CONTENTOne dose protects for 12 months.One ProHeart® 12 (moxidectin) injection puts compliance in your control. + Get started
Tailoring vaccine protocols to benefit the patient and practiceMay 22, 2019More and more pet owners are starting to question veterinarians and their staff about the need for vaccinating their pets due to misinformation on the internet, as well as sensationalized stories about pets who may, or may not, have experienced a vaccine reaction. Those in opposition of vaccines are passionate about their views, while those in favor are equally vehement on the subject. Is one side right and the other wrong, or is there common ground to be found? Likely a little of both. Not all is yet known about the immune system, and there is still research that needs to be done. As such, recommendations offered today are based on current information, with the full knowledge they could change in the future. Not what they used to be Vaccines were developed to help prevent infectious disease, which they do, and vaccine technology has advanced tremendously since the inception of vaccinology. Vaccine opponents often argue ingredients such as adjuvants (e.g. aluminum, mercury, formaldehyde, and foreign proteins) are reasons to not vaccinate, as they can be the cause of adverse advents. This was true in the past; however, many vaccines have been "purified" over the years through the removal of …
Is fear driving the anti-vaccine movement?May 22, 2019Vaccines are one of the most effective means for preventing disease ever developed and one of the great triumphs of scientific medicine. Widespread vaccination of children has dramatically reduced—and in some cases eliminated—infectious diseases that have plagued humanity for thousands of years. There is less research evidence for the impact of vaccination in companion animals, but there is ample reason to believe vaccines have been equally successful in dogs and cats.3–7 Any veterinarian old enough to remember the emergence of canine parvovirus (CPV) in the U.S. in the late 1970s, for example, would probably testify to the efficacy of vaccination in reducing the incidence of this disease.5–7 There also is compelling evidence showing the reduction of both canine and human rabies cases due to vaccination programs aimed at dogs.8–12 And similar to smallpox, the veterinary disease rinderpest was eradicated largely due to the use of an effective vaccine.13 Vaccines and autism Despite the evident success of vaccination in reducing morbidity and mortality, there has always been controversy about the practice.14 The introduction of widespread vaccination in children was initially met with resistance and legal challenges. There was fear about the safety of vaccines, as well as resistance rooted in …
2019 World Veterinary Day highlights the value of vaccinesMarch 12, 2019Vaccines are critical to animal health, which is why this year World Veterinary Day (WVD) is focusing on the value of vaccination. Created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) in 2000, WVD reminds pet owners of the importance of animal care, and how veterinarians and their teams can help. According to the WVA, vaccines are an essential tool for preventive veterinary medicine, promotion of animal health and welfare, and reducing the risk of human exposure to many zoonotic pathogens. Vaccination programs can reduce the need for antimicrobials, and in turn, decreases the risk of emergent antimicrobial resistance. According to WVA and HealthforAnimals, it is vital for the global veterinary profession to educate the public, particularly animal owners and producers, about the benefits of vaccination for animal, human, and public health. This year, WVD takes place on April 27.
Assessing claims of vaccine-induced ITP, IMHAAugust 29, 2018The use of any medical interventions involves balancing risks and benefits. A treatment that has zero risks almost certainly does nothing meaningful. In the case of vaccination, the benefits are well established and often taken for granted. Many serious, even life-threatening, diseases can be prevented through vaccination. In humans, childhood vaccination is recognized as the No. 1 public health achievement of the 20th century,1 and the benefits continue to grow in the 21st.2 Although less data is available in veterinary medicine, there is no question that vaccines have been enormously effective in reducing illness and death in veterinary species as well.3-4
Ongoing quest for immunityJune 12, 2018Vaccines are a staple in preventive medicine, and every year more are added to the arsenal. Here’s what’s going on now in this sector of the profession.
AHI studies economic, social contributions of animal health industryMarch 15, 2018The Animal Health Institute has released its findings from a first-of-its-kind study into the economic and social contributions of the animal health industry, which also covers household pets. The report examines the role the companies that produce pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and flea and tick products play in the U.S. economy and beyond. Key report findings include: Household Pets – More than 67 percent of American households, or 84.6 million, own nearly 400 million companion animals. This includes dogs, cats, horses, birds, fish, horses, and more. Pets by Type – Nearly half of pet-owning households include a dog while over one-third own a cat, for a total of 89.7 million dogs and 94.2 million cats. There are between 100,000 and 200,000 service animals, including those who assist the blind and disabled (but not including police, forensic, or military dogs). Almost all—95 percent—of dog and cat owners view their pets as members of their family. Spending on Pets – Americans spent more than $75.5 billion on their pets in 2016, with an average total household spend of $892 on pet food, veterinary services, supplies, and other services. As pet owners look for solutions to increase the length and quality of life for …
Registration open for Veterinary Biologics Training ProgramJanuary 17, 2018The Institute for International Cooperation in Animal Biologics (IICAB) has opened registration for the Veterinary Biologics Training Program, which will be held May 14-18 in Ames, Iowa. The program provides an overview of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's regulatory process for assuring the purity, safety, potency, and efficacy of veterinary biologics (vaccines, bacterins, antisera, diagnostic kits, and other products of biological origin). During the weeklong program, staff from the Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) at the USDA's Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service provides information on the requirements and processes for licensing/registration and testing of veterinary biological products. The inspection and compliance process for production, release, and post-marketing surveillance of veterinary biological products is also covered in both lectures and workshops, IICAB said. Professionals working in the veterinary biologic industry, researchers developing biologics, and regulatory personnel are encouraged to attend to learn about current CVB requirements. More than 2,700 individuals have attended the program since it was launched in 1996, including 750 individuals from 90-plus countries. The program is organized by IICAB and is co-sponsored by CVB and the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Individuals interested in an introduction or refresher in the ever-changing field of immunology …
Synthetic Genomics, Ceva partner to develop livestock vaccinesNovember 1, 2017 Synthetic Genomics Inc. announced that it has partnered with Ceva Santé Animale to utilize Synthetic Genomics' next-generation synthetic RNA replicon platform to develop vaccines for livestock. Synthetic Genomics' RNA replicons are programed to deliver genetic instructions to a body's own cells to unleash a powerful immune response against a specific disease, the company said. These RNA replicons carry the genetic code for a self-replication engine as well as antigens that signal for an immune response. The self-amplifying, RNA-based vaccine triggers rapid and immediate antigen expression within host cells, which induces strong T cell and B cell responses. These fully synthetic vaccines have lower dose requirements and simplified manufacturing compared to traditional vaccine approaches, according to the announcement. "We have made tremendous progress to date in programming RNA to develop next-generation vaccines that are multigenic, tunable and, most importantly, scalable for commercially competitive markets such as animal health," said Synthetic Genomics CEO Dr. Oliver Fetzer. "This partnership with Ceva, a leader in animal health, highlights the promise in deploying our synthetic biology capabilities to build RNA systems capable of improving global health in a variety of ways." Financial terms of the agreement were not …
The Immunity Challenge: Vaccines and petsJune 22, 2017Back in the day, dog and cat vaccines were cut and dry, and all pets were vaccinated annually, except perhaps for very old or sick animals. Today, the subject is much more fluid, as more information comes to light regarding duration of immunity, potential negative outcomes from vaccinating too often and adverse vaccine events.
