Just wondering if anyone has info about the necessity of
horses getting vaccinated every year rather than every two or 3 years for
rabies. The following info is regarding dogs.
Kathy
http://www.rabieschallengefund.org/page4.html
Why Challenge Current Rabies Vaccine
Policy?
Rabies vaccination is required by law in nearly all areas. Even though
protection from rabies is documented to last at least three years, current law
in some states or areas still requires that boosters be given annually or
biannually rather than the standard policy of every three years. However,
vaccination against rabies virus is occasionally associated with debilitating
adverse effects. According to the CDC domestic animals account for less than
10% of the reported rabies cases, with cats, cattle, and dogs most often
reported rabid.
Scientific data indicate that vaccinating dogs against
rabies every three years, as most states require, is unnecessary. Studies have
shown the duration of protective immunity as measured by serum antibody titers
against rabies virus to persist for seven years post-vaccination. By validating
the 'true' life of rabies virus immunity and moving to five and hopefully seven
years, we will decrease the risk of adverse reactions in our animals and
minimize their repeated exposure to foreign substances.
Killed vaccines like those for rabies virus can trigger
immediate and delayed adverse vaccine reactions (termed "vaccinosis")
While there may be immediate hypersensitivity reactions, other acute events
tend to occur 24-72 hours afterwards, or up to 45 days later in the case of
delayed reactions. Reactions that have been documented include:
Behavior changes such as aggression and separation
anxiety
Obsessive behavior,self-mutilation, tail
chewing
Pica - eating wood, stones, earth, stool
Destructive behavior, shredding bedding
Seizures, epilepsy
Fibrosarcomas at injection site
Autoimmune diseases such as those affecting bone
marrow and blood cells, joints, eyes, skin, kidney, liver, bowel, and
central nervous system.
