Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Vaccinology is an ever expanding field. As a member of the veterinary staff it is important to stay up to date with the continuous new scientific data and recommendations that affect the care that our companion animals receive at the veterinary clinic. This paper presents adverse vaccination reactions, their cause, risk factors and suggestions how we can minimize the risk of adverse vaccine events in dogs. Dog owners in Sweden were allowed to answer a questionnaire about adverse events following vaccination. Lethargy, edema and pruritus were among the most frequently seen adverse effects. Furthermore, adverse vaccine reactions include injections-site reactions (e.g. pain, swelling), nonspecific systemic symptoms (lethargy, anorexia, fever), allergic, hypersensitivity and immune-mediated reactions, lack of efficacy and vaccine-induced immunosuppression. There are different causes and sometimes several factors influencing the effect the vaccine has on the individual dog. Individual and immune-mediated factors in the dog as well as the vaccine components, handling and administration of the vaccine, residual or reversion of virulence and contamination are factors that may contribute to an adverse event. Risk factors includes specific breeds, small dogs, young dogs, individuals that are immunodeficient or have preexisting illnesses, the number of vaccines given during a single visit and the immunologic load placed on the individual. The prime intervention to make vaccination safer is to reduce the vaccine load for every dog. At the same time we should strive to vaccinate as many dogs in the population as possible to promote herd immunity. Dogs with previous nonspecific systemic reactions should not be revaccinated unless deemed necessary and caution should be taken.

We’re moving from a standard to an individualized vaccination procedure where the individual situation, risk factors and scientific data available are evaluated to design a personal vaccination program.

Though the adverse events following a vaccination are rare, with a holistic approach, advances in vaccine technologies and with regard to new scientific data we might be able to reduce the adverse events further and ease the concern about adverse reactions growing in the general public.