_2008_REPORT_ON_RABIES_VACCINE_ADVERSE_REACTIONS_IN_DOGS[/B]_
THE -JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION- HAS
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..........APPROXIMATELY 65% OF THE MANUFACTURER'S
REPORTS INVOLVED DOGS.\"
The report further states on the second page that: [b] "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
--
Kris L. Christine