Vaccination Policy Revision in Australia

AussieGirl · 08-26-2009, 09:59 PM

Finally!

I thought I was going to have to go in armed with a ton of info and argue the point with my vet but the Australian Veterinary Association has finally followed other countries in reducing the frequency of vaccinating dogs and cats. They state it will be reduced to three yearly - not overly happy with that but it's better than yearly and at least they wont look at me like I'm completly mad when I insist on even longer between vaccinations depending on the results of a titre test. As with all things though there seems to be those who aren't too happy with the change as I read in my local paper today

.

Out of curiosity those who follow a reduced vaccination schedule there is a rumor I heard that the Titre is alot more expensive than the vacination (not that it matters to me I will still go ahead with a reduced schedule - just curious) is that true in your case?

Ruby Red · 08-27-2009, 02:42 AM

Yes, the titre test is more expensive over here than the vaccinations, almost double the cost in fact, particularly in light of the fact that vets here seem to be doing all sorts of ‘special offers’ at the moment – e.g., one month you can get discounts on vaccinations, the next month, discounts on teeth cleaning, etc – recession hitting everywhere!

Furthermore, where we live there is an animal rescue shelter nearby that runs a basic community vet service and offers things like vaccination, flea/worm treatment, spay/neutering and dental cleaning at very reduced rates all year round.

We titre check every year, so far results have come in over the recommended level of 40. If they came in lower I think we would really want to explore the idea of using nosodes as an alternative to vaccinating, an article on this can be found here:

bruinsBoxers · 08-27-2009, 07:35 AM

My vet charges $80 for each virus/ disease you are titering for .

It is all well and good that they are suggesting to only give vaccs every 3 years . but even though that has been suggested here in the U.S.A. for a few years many vets are still wanting to do vaccs every year . It can be an argument with them why you do not vaccinate every year. They don't even care about the new guidelines .

brindlebox · 08-27-2009, 10:30 AM

If you get it done in Canada yes it costs alot of money but if you send it to Dr Dodds in California even with the shipping it is cheaper then what they charge in Canada. I think it all depends on your vet, mine is very good he doesn't do anything I don't want him todo and when I say I want blood taken out to send to california they do it. They also don't force you to get vaccines if you don't want them. The only one we do here is the 3 year rabie as it is required by law and if by chance your dog bites someone at least it won't be put down cause you don't have the rabies vaccine.

JoeV · 08-27-2009, 03:56 PM

This is the first I've heard of vaccinations every three years. What vaccines does this cover? Lucky was vaccinated in September last year, and was just going to make a vet appt. for next month for checkup and all shots - should I not have her get all the shots? Does anyone have a good site where it explains this topic (US)?

daisy'smom · 08-27-2009, 04:01 PM

The first I read about it was on this forum VACCINES--Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo Here is the link to a very informative article about vaccines.

Spyglass Sally · 08-27-2009, 04:23 PM

There is a very good U.K. site on vaccines called the Canine Health Concern. They have a lot of good info there.

whitedaisy · 08-27-2009, 06:15 PM

I used to titer, and yes it is a lot more expensive. Then last year Daisy's titer came back low (saying she was not immune) so I had to go looking for more info and I found this site http://www.caberfeidh.com/Titers.htm Now I no longer titer because I know it doesn't mean the dogs aren't immune, just that haven't been exposed recently.

AussieGirl · 08-27-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitedaisy

I used to titer, and yes it is a lot more expensive. Then last year Daisy's titer came back low (saying she was not immune) so I had to go looking for more info and I found this site http://www.caberfeidh.com/Titers.htm Now I no longer titer because I know it doesn't mean the dogs aren't immune, just that haven't been exposed recently.

Hmm, Ruby will be the first dog I do the reduced vaccination thing with so this is all a learning process for me. What are you planning on doing re their vaccinations? Do you plan on revaccinating at any time and if so when and why that particular time? With what I had read you do the titre and vaccinate according to the results, but that info has made things a little more confusing now.

brindlebox · 08-27-2009, 08:28 PM

I know when we had the titer test done everything came back really high? I have heard what you said before by people and it does get very confusing as to what to do. I have also read many places that the vaccines stay in there system for 7 years!

I recently had to have a titer test done for myself cause I refused to get measles and chicken pox vaccine! THey looked at me like I was nuts for refusing but I told them I had the chicken pox allready and measles twice and I am not getting the shots!!!!! My tests came back saying I have immunity for them and I that these back when I was just a kid! SO why on ear are they pushing them on me now.