Any vet that does not report an adverse affect is doing a disservice to his/her clients. Claims that reactions are uncommon is backed up by numbers that are incorrect due to under reporting. I am sick of hearing from people that their vet didn't report something because "it is not that common", duh, maybe it really is and vets are not reporting them!?! IF YOUR PET HAS AN ADVERSE REACTION MAKE SURE YOUR VET REPORTS IT, IF THEY WON'T DO IT YOURSELF 2008 REPORT ON RABIES VACCINE ADVERSE REACTIONS IN DOGS
The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association has just
published a report in its April 1, 2008 issue, Vol. 232, No. 7,
entitled:
"Postmarketing Surveillance of Rabies Vaccines for Dogs to Evaluate
Safety and Efficacy."
Despite the extreme under-reporting of vaccinal adverse reactions,this report states on the second page that between April 1, 2004 and
March 31, 2007, the Center for Veterinary Biologics, "nearly 10,000
adverse event reports (all animal species) were received by
manufacturers of rabies vaccines..........Approx
imately 65% of the
manufacturer's reports, involved dogs."
The report further states on the second page that: "Rabies vaccines
are the most common group of biological products identified in
adverse event reports received by the CVB," and they give the
following description of the adverse reaction followed by the % of
dogs affected: Vomiting-28.1%, Facial Swelling-26.3%, Injection Site
Swelling or Lump-19.4%, Lethargy-12%, Urticaria-10.1%, Circulatory
shock-8.3%, Injection site pain-7.4%, Pruritus-7.4%, Injection site
alopecia or hair loss-6.9%, Death-5.5%, Lack of Consciousness-5.5,
Diarrhea-4.6%, Hypersensitivity (not specified)-4.6%, Fever-4.1%,
Anaphylaxis-2.8%, Ataxia-2.8%, Lameness-2.8%, General signs of pain-
2.3%, Hyperactivity-2.3%, Injection site scab or crust-2.3%, Muscle
tremor-2.3%, Tachycardia-2.3%, and Thrombocytopenia-2.3%.
Veterinarians are not required by law to report adverse reactions to
vaccines, to which the World Small Animal Veterinary Association
stated in their 2007 Vaccine Guidelines that there is:
"gross under-
reporting of vaccine-associated adverse events which impedes
knowledge of the ongoing safety of these products,"And in an article entitled, A New Approach to Reporting Medication
and Device Adverse Effects and Product Problems, (JAMA - June 2,
1993. Vol.269, No.21. p.2785) Dr. David Kessler, former head of the
Food & Drug Administration, reported that
"only about 1% of serious
events are reported to the FDA."In light of the 10,000 adverse reactions to the rabies vaccine in the
JAVMA report, 65% of which were in dogs, the estimated 1% reporting
of "serious" events by the former head of the FDA means that the
actual number of dogs that had adverse reactions to the vaccine would
be more like 650,000!!!!!World Small Animal Veterinary Association 2007 Vaccine Guidelines
http://www.wsava.org/SAC.htm Scroll down to Vaccine Guidelines 2007
(PDF)
A New Approach to Reporting Medication and Device Adverse Effects and
Product Problems
http://www.vaccinationnews.com/Adverse_Reactions/VAERS/credible_estimates.htm Scroll down to David Kessler statement in JAMA - June 2,
1993,vol.269, No.21, p.2785