1. Live vaccines are dangerous; why can't we have killed ones instead?
   Live vaccines are preferable to killed ones in many cases because they give a more rapid onset of protection, most usually require only one dose, provide a better stimulation of the immune system and give longer lasting protection. Strains selected for live vaccines have to be tested to the same high safety standards as for killed vaccines.

2. Giving all the vaccines all the time overloads the immune system, leading to immune damage ('vaccinosis') which can cause autoimmune disease; why can't the shots be given separately?
   Certain autoimmune disease syndromes are being more commonly recognised by vets but there is little scientifically-proven evidence linking such disorders with routine vaccination. Although one publication from the States has suggested a possible temporal association with vaccination and the onset of AIHA in dogs, a more detailed study recently reported from the UK has found no evidence of any increased risk of developing either AIHA or JMT as a result of vaccination. Some workers have suggested that vaccination may act as an 'antigenic' load, triggering the onset of immune mediated disease in a very small number of 'genetically predisposed' individuals. There is no evidence that giving different vaccine components separately is any safer or more effective than giving them at the same time.

3. Why do boosters have to be given; people don't get boosted, so why do our pets?
   Immunity is not lifelong to all diseases and therefore booster vaccination will be required at intervals to maintain the high level of protection necessary to prevent disease. Many human vaccines do require boosting but may not be routinely used. For example, it is rare for polio boosters to be given in the western world where polio has effectively been eradicated.

4. My pet showed signs of disease/illness after vaccination; why aren't people told about the problems vaccines can cause?
   Serious side effects following vaccination are very rare indeed. No vaccine can be guaranteed 100% safe and effective in every case, despite undergoing thorough and independent evaluation of safety, quality and efficacy. Where there are known side effects, these are clearly listed in the product data sheet. Owners are encouraged to discuss any specific concerns with their veterinary surgeon and any suspected adverse reaction should be reported to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).

5. Aren't homeopathic nosodes a safer alternative?
   As there is little if any conventional active ingredient present in a homeopathic preparation, homeopathic vaccines (or nosodes) may theoretically be even less likely to cause side effects than conventional vaccines. There is however no proper evidence to support their efficacy in terms of disease prevention.

6. Why do the shots cost so much and why is there so much price variation between practices?
   The vet will not only administer the vaccine (s), but will first perform a routine health examination. In effect, you are paying for a full professional consultation and you will have the opportunity to discuss other aspects of pet healthcare. Variation in prices charged may occur because of different practice overheads, regional cost of living differences, type of vaccine (s) used etc. Any concerns should be discussed directly with the vet. At Pool House Veterinary Group every efforts is made to ensure that the cost of vaccination is kept to an absolute minimum.

7. The literature says that only healthy animals should be vaccinated; why is this and what are the risks to an unhealthy animal?
   It is important that the animal is in full 'immunological' health and that the immune system is not 'otherwise engaged' fighting some acute disease condition. Your vet will therefore almost certainly carry out a health examination before vaccinating your pet. It would be wrong to discount the possibility that an acutely sick animal may be more likely to respond adversely to vaccination. When faced with an animal with chronic disease such as heart disease or diabetes, most vets would advise that vaccination should be continued.

8. The breeder says that this breed should not have live vaccines; why is this?
   I've no idea! As far as we are concerned, there are breed specific contra4ndications for any of the live vaccines currently on the market.

9. Why can't my pet be tested to see if it needs vaccinating before deciding whether to 'boost'?
   Although circulating antibody levels to some diseases can be measured in the blood, the main problems are cost and inconvenience. Testing is more expensive than vaccinating and samples need to be sent away to a specialist laboratory with a delay of about a week before results are available.

10. I've heard that vaccines can cause skin cancer, is this true?
    There have been reports, principally from the USA and Canada of local fibrosarcomas appearing at injection sites in cats. Workers have suggested that repeated inoculations with certain adjuvanted products at the same site (ie, the scruff) may be part of the problem. In the USA' the reported incidence of cats developing fibrosarcomas after vaccination is very small - probably less than I in 5,000. The risk of death from Feline Leukaemia Virus in the UK is about 250 in 5,000! Currently the UK and the rest of Europe do not appear to be experiencing this problem and the number and types of vaccines used in cats in the USA are very different to the ones used routinely in the ~ No similar fibrosarcomas have been highlighted in dogs.

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