Creating Waves of Awareness
American Veterinary Medical Association Passes Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver
AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) EXECUTIVE BOARD PASSES ANNUAL RABIES VACCINATION WAIVER
Alan Phillips, attorney-at-law in Chapel Hill, NC who co-hosts the Vaccine and Your Rights in the United States Radio show every Thursday at noon on BlogTalkRadio sent me this announcment on March 28, 2012
This news makes a huge impact on the lives of pets and pet owners and the statement about vaccine effectiveness, boosters and adverse effects has been recognized.
- "...AVMA recognizes some animals might require a waiver from rabies vaccination because the vaccination poses an unacceptably high risk to the health of the individual animal..."
Permission Granted to Cross-Post
Dr. Patricia Jordan
RESOLUTION #2 — 2012 | Regular Winter Session
Submitted by AVMA Executive Board
POLICY ON ANNUAL RABIES VACCINATION WAIVER
RESOLVED, that the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approve the Policy on Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver as noted below and related form in the attachment: Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) strongly supports the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians’ (NASPHV) recommendation that all dogs, cats, and ferrets should be vaccinated to protect against rabies infection. Rabies is an almost invariably fatal disease for animals and humans; vaccination of animals is a critical step in preventing infection and protecting public health. However, AVMA recognizes that some individual animals may have experienced a severe life-threatening adverse event to a previous rabies vaccination that may contraindicate vaccination, or a waiver might be necessary for research purposes However, AVMA recognizes some animals might require a waiver from rabies vaccination because the vaccination poses an unacceptably high risk to the health of the individual animal, or a waiver might be necessary for research purposes. If adequate steps can be taken to minimize the chance of exposure to rabies virus, the AVMA recommends that such animals be granted a waiver from mandatory rabies vaccination, upon recommendation of a licensed veterinarian and with the concurrence of the appropriate public health authorities. The attached “Model Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver Form” may be used as a template for this purpose.
Because rabies continues to be a significant public health issue, waivers should not be issued arbitrarily upon client request and should be based upon clinical evidence that the animal would be at considerable risk of being harmed by the vaccine because of a diagnosed medical condition. Modern killed virus or recombinant rabies vaccines have no risk of inducing rabies in the vaccinated animal and are not contraindicated in most immunocompromised animals. Advanced age of the animal or a desire on the part of the client or veterinarian to minimize the use of vaccinations (in the absence of a specific contraindication to vaccination) should not be considered sufficient justification for issuing a rabies vaccination waiver.
To ensure that the risk to both the individual animal and to public health is considered, a waiver of rabies vaccination should only be issued when a licensed veterinarian with a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship with the animal and the appropriate public health authorities concur that the waiver should be issued. The client must be informed that, even if a waiver is issued, the waiver only serves to allow the animal to be properly licensed in compliance with animal control regulations. In the event that the animal is involved in a potential rabies exposure incident, the animal should be considered unvaccinated against rabies for the purpose of appropriate public health regulations or when following the recommendations of the NASPHV Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control. All rabies vaccination waivers should be reconsidered at least yearly and, if appropriate, may be renewed on an annual basis following a reassessment of the animal’s condition.
Although the AVMA supports the existence of a process for issuing waivers of rabies vaccination requirements in every jurisdiction, this policy should not be construed as justification for failing to vaccinate animals for rabies in jurisdictions where such vaccination is required by law and no waiver or delay process exists.
Statement about the Resolution
Following a request from the Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents (COBTA) Executive Board liaison over a year ago that the AVMA consider a policy on rabies vaccination exemptions due to pre-existing medical conditions and an accompanying model certificate, the Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine (CPHRVM) has worked diligently with multiple entities to develop a policy to address exemptions from mandatory rabies vaccination requirements.
While the CPHRVM still endorses and strongly supports the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians’ (NASPHV) recommendation that all dogs, cats, and ferrets should be vaccinated to protect against rabies infection, the Council recognizes that there are unique circumstances in which an annual rabies vaccination waiver may be justified and warranted.
The CPHRVM has thoughtfully considered and incorporated constructive comments from COBTA, the Clinical Practitioners Advisory Committee to COBTA, the Council on Veterinary Services (CoVS), the AVMA PLIT, and the NASPHV prior to development and submission of its recommendation for the new Policy on Annual Rabies Vaccination Waiver and accompanying model waiver form.
Financial Impact:
XXX
RECOMMEND APPROVAL RECOMMEND DISAPPROVAL RECOMMEND REFERRAL TO …* NO RECOMMENDATION
Executive Board
X
House Advisory Committee
X
Reference Committee #7
X-as amended
############### Policy and related form amended as noted here - However, AVMA recognizes that some individual animals may have experienced a severe life-threatening adverse event to a previous rabies vaccination that may contraindicate vaccination, or a waiver might be necessary for research purposes However, AVMA recognizes some animals might require a waiver from rabies vaccination because the vaccination poses an unacceptably high risk to the health of the individual animal, or a waiver might be necessary for research purposes.
APPROVED DISAPPROVED REFERRED TO . . .*
HOD ACTION
X-as amended
Dr. Andrew Wakefield's comment;
“Decide why you chose the profession you did, do your job without compromise in the best interests of the patients, or pack up and get out.”
Tags: Vaccines, american, association, cats, dogs, medical, pets, rabies, vaccinations, veterinary
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Laurie J. Willberg on -
Notwithstanding that this is not pertinent to my area (Ontario, Canada) I just had to list that in 2011 there were 2 reported rabies cases in the entire province -- one cow and one skunk http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/stdprodconsume/groups/lr/@mnr/@rabies/docu...
The facts of potential contact don't seem to play any role in the fear-mongering of public agencies about "how important rabies vaccination is..."
I've been watching the statistics in my area for years, during which time bat bites were considered to be the major vector. It seemed to escape anyone's notice that humans have a higher likelihood of being chomped by a bat, so why not the big scare stories prompting humans to get rabies shots too?
One thing that stands out in the report is the suggestion for an annual re-evaluation of the exemption. Seems to have escaped someone's notice that an "immunocompromised" pet doesn't just suddenly become un-immunocompromised. And it certainly doesn't take into consideration that the compromisation of the immune system was likely due to vaccines in the first place.
It doesn't take into consideration that many pets are never in a position to be exposed to rabies, either because the incidence is low to non-existent in their geographical area or because they are largely "house-dogs".
Veterinary income is based on about 30% from annual visits for vaccinations and 40% from food sales. Seems they just have to maintain that recommendation for annual visits to keep the $$ flowing. The routine vaccinations and commercial pet food routine will certainly keep patients returning for treatment of entirely avoidable health problems.
Feeding your pet a species-appropriate raw diet and avoiding vaccinations can pretty much save you and your pet from vet visits of any sort (apart from severe emergency trauma care requiring surgery). The rest can be taken care of with Homeopathic treatment.
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Permalink Reply by Debby Bruck on -
Many excellent points raised here, Laurie. In good faith, we believe guidelines and laws are created for the safety of pets and people. While in reality, most often, the dollar sign plays a much larger role in determining these laws and regulations. We have awakened to these facts and now people have decided to take a stand and speak out with some facts, as you have just done here. Thanks so much for your input. Blessings, Debby
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© 2013 Created by Debby Bruck.
