The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council is supporting the judicious use of vaccines and recommending that pet owners “work closely with their veterinarian to determine an effective and safe vaccination program.”
A statement released by PIJAC CEO Mike Bober followed the lead of the organization’s Zoonoses Committee, which discussed the need to “protect the health of humans and animals alike,” a spokesperson said.
The trade group, which represents product manufacturers and retailers and promotes responsible pet ownership, acknowledged pet owner concerns about overvaccination and potential side effects.
“Pet owners should work closely with their veterinarian to determine an effective and safe vaccination program that takes into consideration their pet’s age, lifestyle, geographic location and any other risk factors,” Bober stated. “Antibody titers do not replace vaccination programs but — for some diseases — may help your veterinarian determine whether your pet has a reasonable expectation of protection.
“Pet owners should be aware that, within the United States, a positive test for rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) is not recognized as an indication of protective immunity,” he added.
Serious side effects “are rare and outweighed by the disease protection benefits of vaccination,” the PIJAC leader said, referencing the position of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The judicious use of pet vaccines also has the support of the American Animal Hospital Association, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, the World Health Organization and the North American Veterinary Community, publisher of Today’s Veterinary Business.