Annual booster vaccinations do not increase immunity

Vaccination protocols have been changed all over the world and veterinary authorities no longer recommend annual booster shots. It has long since been established by vaccine researchers that the puppy (kitten) shots - preferably NOT at 6 weeks because the antibodies from mom will neutralize the vaccination - and subsequent vaccination (after 12 months) will provide life-long immunity. Common sense should tell the proponents of annual "booster" vaccinations that it is sheer nonsense to "boost" already immune animals since the immunity already acquired will act like maternal antibody and inactivate the vaccine. In the past, it was believed that annual vaccination would not hurt and would probably help most animals.

However concerns about side effects have begun to change this attitude. One disadvantage to over-vaccinating is cost. The client is paying for something with no effect or with the potential for an adverse reaction. I believe that adverse effects are increasing because we are putting more and more components into these animals ...There is a real concern that vaccines may predispose certain genetically susceptible individuals to immune-mediated disease. The more antigens we administer, the higher the potential for hypersensitivity. Type 1 is IgE mediated; type 2 cytotoxic antibody mediated; type 3 immune-mediated, type 4 cellular mediated. All of these hypersensitivies are natural parts of the immune response, but they cause a certain amount of tissue damage. In many cases it is impossible to show a direct connection between damage and a vaccine, since it is the accumulation of many antigens over many years that results in clinically evident disease."

(From The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 207 Aug 15, 1995.) 7. "A practice that was started many years ago and that lacks scientific validity or verification is annual revaccinations. Almost without exception there is no immunologic requirement for annual revaccination. Immunity to viruses persists for years or for the life of the animal."

(Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy XI, "Canine and Feline Vaccines," Phipps, Schultz.) 8. "Dogs' & cats' immune systems mature fully at 6 months. If a modified live virus (MLV) vaccine is given after 6 months of age, it produces an immunity which is good for the life of the pet (i.e. canine distemper, parvo, feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of second vaccine, and there is little or no effect. The titer (level of immunity) is not 'boosted' nor are more memory cells induced. -Schultz, R.D. - Current & Future Canine & Feline Vaccination Programs. Vet Med 3: No. 3, 233-254, 1998."

(Summary from Bob Rogers DVM, http://www.critterfixer.com/). 9. "Since the mid 1970's we have done a variety of studies with various canine vaccines to demonstrate their duration of immunity. From our studies it is apparent, at least to me, that the duration of immunity for the four most important canine vaccines (core vaccines) is considerably longer than one year. Furthermore, we have found that annual revaccination, with the vaccines that provide long term immunity, provides no demonstrable benefit and may increase the risk for adverse reactions."

(Ronald D. Schultz, Professor and Chair, Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, "Duration of Immunity to Canine Vaccines: What We Know and Don't Know.")

Ms Blank