Vaccine Info with Chart Schedules Part 1 of 2

[Daveyo]

Considerations in Designing Effective and Safe Vaccination Programs for Dogs (Last Updated: 5-May-2000)
R. D. Schultz

Introduction:

During the past 50 years many vaccines have been developed to prevent a variety of infectious diseases of dogs. Currently there are 16 canine vaccines licensed in the USA which are available commercially (Table 1). Although a few of the vaccines are available as monovalent products (e.g. rabies, canine parvovirus), most are available only as multi-component products that contain between 2 to 10 components. Some vaccines have had a profound effect by reducing, or eliminating, diseases characterized by moderate to high morbidity and/or mortality. However, other vaccines have had little or no recognized beneficial effect because they were designed to prevent infections that cause little or no morbidity and/or mortality. Some vaccines are so new that the potential benefits they provide are not known e.g., Giardia, Leptospira (L.) grippotyphosa and L. pomona.

Table 1. List of the Licensed Canine Vaccines Available Commercially in the United States 1.
Viral Bacterial Parasite

Canine Distemper Virus (MLV)
Canarypox-Distemper Virus (LRV)
Canine Distemper Virus/Measles Virus (MLV)
Canine Parvovirus-2 (MLV, K)
Canine Adenovirus-1 (K)
Canine Adenovirus-2 (MLV, K)
Canine Parainfluenza Virus (MLV)
Canine Coronavirus (MLV, K)
Rabies Virus (K)


Bordetella bronchiseptica (MLV, K)
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme) (K, KR)
Leptospira canicola (K)
Leptospira grippotyphosa (K)
Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae (K)
Leptospira pomona (K)

Giardia (K)


MLV = Modified Live Vaccine; KR = Killed Recombinant Vaccine; K = Killed Vaccine, Less potent safer; LRV = Live Recombinant Vaccine

1 > Only a few of these vaccines are available as monovalent products. Almost all commercial products contain two or more of these vaccines. The most common multi-component product contain CDV, CPV-2, CAV-2, CPI, Leptospira canicola, Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. This product is often referred to as a "7-way vaccine" because it should protect against (CAV-2 and CAV-1) in addition to the other 5 components.

Core" Vaccines

Canine vaccines which are considered essential, and should be given to every dog, are termed "core vaccines". All other vaccines are regarded as "non-core" and should be used in dogs considered at high risk on an as needed basis. Core vaccines are considered essential because they are designed to prevent important diseases that pose serious health threats to susceptible dogs, irrespective of geographic location or the life style of a dog. Some "non-core" vaccines also may be considered "core" because they are designed to prevent a disease that is a potential public health threat.

Efficacy and safety of a product are critical in deciding whether a vaccine should be considered core. Diseases that pose a serious risk to susceptible dogs, or to public health, which are readily preventable by current vaccines include rabies, a major public health disease caused by the rabies virus (RV); canine parvovirosis caused by canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2); canine distemper caused by canine distemper virus (CDV), and infectious canine hepatitis (ICH) caused by canine adenovirus type-1 (CAV-1). ICH is effectively controlled by canine adenovirus-2 (CAV-2) vaccine which has replaced CAV-1 vaccines because it is much safer. As part of a minimum disease prevention program, every dog should receive CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2 and rabies vaccines at least one time at or after the age of 12 weeks (Table 2). If that were the only vaccination a dog ever received, and the products used were modified live CPV-2, CDV, CAV-2 and a 3-year killed rabies, the dog would have a >80% probability of developing immunity to those four viruses for 3 or more years.

Vaccination programs for highly contagious diseases are most effective when all, or the highest percentage possible, of animals in the population have been vaccinated. Therefore, every effort should be made to ensure that as many dogs as possible over the age of 12 weeks are vaccinated with at least one dose of the four core vaccines.

Table 2. Duration of Immunity and Efficacy for Canine Vaccines Commercially Available in the United States.
Vaccine Minimum Duration of Immunity Estimate of Relative Efficacy = (%)>estimate strength of immunity.

Core

Canine Distemper >7 yrs> (1) >90%
Canine Parvovirus-2 >7 yrs> (1) >90%
Canine Adenovirus-2 >7 yrs> (1) >90%
Rabies Virus >3 yrs> (1) >85%


Non-Core

Canine Coronavirus "lifetime"> (3&5) >---???
Canine Parainfluenza >3 yrs> (1) > 80%
Bordetella bronchiseptica >1 yr > (1&2) > 70%
Leptospira canicola >1 yr > (2) > 50%
Leptospira grippotyphosa >1 yr > (4) >---???
Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae >1 yr > (2) > 75%
Leptospira pomona >1 yr > (4) >---???
Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease) >1 yr >(1) > 75%
Giardia >1 yr > (4) >---???

EXPLANATIONS:
(1) Experimental challenge studies and/or serologic studies have been performed. Field experience during outbreaks also confirm experimental challenge studies.

(2) Based on field experience and observations from outbreak studies and clinical records. Reliable experimental or controlled studies often not available.

(3) Not available; cannot be determined. CCV has not been shown to cause significant disease.

(4) Vaccines recently licenced; information not available except from company data.
5 See text.

Minimum Disease Prevention

In the United States, which has the highest percentage of vaccinated dogs, I estimate that less than 60% of all dogs receive the minimum disease prevention vaccination program (Table 3). In many countries less than 30% of dogs receive this one time vaccination with the four core vaccines. Efforts to increase the percentage of vaccinated dogs will require a better understanding by veterinarians and dog owners of the importance, effectiveness and safety of this one time vaccination program. In contrast to a minimum disease prevention program, the vaccination programs for the majority of well cared for pets are vaccination practices considered to provide "maximum disease prevention". Thus, most pet dogs receiving routine veterinary care are given the core vaccines several times; in addition, they routinely receive several of the non-core vaccines.

Based on a national survey that we have done during the past 2 years, a majority of veterinary practices began the puppy vaccination program at, or shortly after, 6 weeks of age. The product used most often was a multi-component vaccine containing CPV-2, CDV, CAV, canine parainfluenza (CPI) virus, and L. canicola plus L. icterohemorrhagiae bacterins.

Approximately 50% of dogs received Canine Coronavirus (CCV) in combination or as a separate vaccine. The pups were then revaccinated 3 to 5 times with the same product at 2 to 4 week intervals until they reach an age of 14 to 18 weeks. One dose of rabies vaccine was given at 12 to 16 weeks of age. In approximately 25% of animals, two or more doses of an intranasal vaccine containing Bordetella bronchiseptica (B. bronchiseptica) and CPI-virus was given to pups before 18 weeks of age!

Additionally, Lyme vaccine (Borrelia burgdorferi) is sometimes included in the puppy program. In the majority of practices, dogs would then be revaccinated with the vaccines noted above at least annually for the remainder of their lives. An exception to annual revaccination is rabies, which would be given at 1 year of age, and then once every 3 years thereafter, unless more frequent vaccination was required by law or believed necessary by the veterinarian.



Table 3. Vaccination Programs for Dogs.

"Core" Vaccines (Every Dog)

Program A - Minimal Approach

Primary Immunization at 12 weeks or older
- Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2)
- Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
- Canine Adenovirus (CAV-2) and Rabies Virus

Note: Canine Parainfluenza (CPI) will have to be included since there are no products with CPV-2, CDV and CAV-2 without CPI.

Revaccination
Rabies - 1 year after primary, then once every 3 years.
Other vaccines would not be given again.


Program B - Moderate Approach Primary Immunization

- 6 to 9 weeks - CPV-2 + CDV
- 12 to 15 weeks - Rabies, CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 + CPI*

Revaccination
- 1 Yr. later - Rabies, CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 + CPI*, then again every 3 years for rabies; every 3 -5 years for other vaccines.
*See note under Program A


Program C - Maximum Approach

Primary Immunization
- 6 to 8 weeks - CPV-2 +CDV - 9 to 11 weeks - CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 + CPI* - 12 to 14 weeks - Rabies, CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 +CPI*

Revaccination
- 1 Yr CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 + CPI* + Rabies. - 3 Yr CPV-2 + CDV + CAV-2 + CPI* + Rabies. *See note under Program A

"Non-Core" Vaccines
(Give only if the dog is at high risk and then only the vaccine that is needed)


Program D - Minimal Approach
- Give only "core" vaccines ("Non-core" vaccines are not given)

Program E - Moderate Approach
Primary Immunization
- 6 weeks of age, or older - 1 dose of intranasal B. bronchiseptica + CPI*
- 12 week and 14 to 15 weeks - 2 doses of Leptospira bacterin (2- or 4-serovars)

Revaccination
- Annually - Leptospira bacterin + intranasal B. bronchiseptica + CPI*
*See note under Program A

Program F - Maximum Approach
Primary Immunization - 6 to 14 weeks of age - 2 doses Intranasal B. bronchiseptica + CPI*
- 9 to 11 weeks and 12 to 14 weeks - Leptospira bacterin (2-serovars or 4-serovars)
- 9 to 11 and 12 to 14 weeks - 2 doses Lyme disease vaccine
- 6 to 8 weeks and 9 to 11 weeks - 2 doses Giardia vaccine
*See note under Program A

Revaccination
- Annually with intranasal B. bronchiseptica and CPI
- At least annually with Leptospira bacterin (2-serovars or 4-serovars)
- Lyme vaccine - annually, a few months prior to peak tick season
- Omit Giardia vaccine

Additional Recomendations:

When Canine Parvovirus is a serious threat:
- CPV-2 monovalent MLV product starting at 5 weeks of age then giving the product every other week until 15 weeks of age. A more reliable program would be to determine antibody titers to CPV-2 and vaccinate pups when CPV-2 antibodies no longer interfere with immunization.

When Canine Distemper is a serious threat:
- Measles virus - CDV combination at 4 to 6 weeks of age; then a product containing CDV without MV at 12 weeks of age or older.

Program A, B, or C for "core" products can be matched with any of the "non-core" product programs D, E, or F. Therefore, Program A can be matched with D (no "non-core" product given) or with F, where any of the non-core vaccines needed could be given and given again annually for dogs at high risk. Vaccination more often than listed in C and F should rarely, if ever, be done.


Considering the difference between the minimum disease prevention program that protects >80% of dogs from the important canine diseases and the program described above, it is not surprising that neither the dog-owning public nor veterinarians appreciate the exceptional benefit derived from the "minimum disease prevention program".

Why are there significant differences in number of doses and components of vaccines routinely given in the maximum vs. minimum disease prevention programs? Those differences arise primarily from misperceptions about how vaccines work, which vaccines are necessary, and how often vaccines should be given during the life of the dog to provide protective immunity.

End Part 1

By Daveyo

Revision History
Jan 27th, 2008 at 2:57pm