• Vetiranary Medicine
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Conference Coverage
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Digital Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Pharmacy
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Veterinary Heroes
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

MVMA backs full disclosure for vaccines

September 1, 2004
Jennifer Fiala

AUGUSTA, MAINE-The Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) champions full disclosure of vaccine information to pet owners and is setting out to create a model form for practitioners.

AUGUSTA, MAINE—The Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) champions full disclosure of vaccine information to pet owners and is setting out to create a model form for practitioners.

The move comes as state Sen. Chris Hall promises to introduce a bill forcing veterinarians to offer clients vaccine risk-assessment information. It's the latest action in a negative publicity campaign that's plagued veterinarians and state officials concerning a regulatory discrepancy forcing practitioners to abide by biennial rabies protocols.

"I think disclosure forms are a good idea and in fact, I have contacted some of the experts in the field to try to help me write a model in a good, plain English," MVMA President Dr. Bill Bryant says. "Obviously we'd prefer to take the initiative and get this underway on our own. However, if it goes before the Legislature, we'd likely support it. My goal is to get our information out as quickly as possible. We're trying to get around all this bad press."

Advertisement

Hindered by bureaucracy

The red tape surrounding the profession's support of three-year vaccine protocols for rabies stems from antiquated licensure laws that, due a renewal schedule, call for boosters every two years rather than the three-year standard.

While the issue remains convoluted from a regulatory standpoint, the public has accused veterinarians of supporting biennial vaccinations for financial reasons, deeming inoculations "cash cows."

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, which issued a letter to practitioners addressing the unfavorable press, has proposed changes to the protocols, and, at presstime, state leaders scheduled an Aug. 31 hearing on the discrepancy between licensure and inoculation standards.

A positive spin

The controversy, fueled by activists who claim over-vaccination caused their dog's malignant skin tumor, brought about the call for disclosure. Unlike three-year protocols, supported by relatively recent science, Bryant fully supports disclosure and says forms can act as a tool to gaining well-informed clients.

"It's time for something like this to come out," he says. "I think that disclosure forms will be an important resource to have available to stimulate verbal discussions on vaccines' benefits and possible side effects."

Related Content:

Association
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
ABVS approves full recognition for shelter medicine practice
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community
Pet Advocacy Network honors outstanding contributions to the pet care community
Q&A with AVMA treasurer Dr Arnold L. Goldman
Q&A with AVMA treasurer Dr Arnold L. Goldman

Advertisement

Latest News

Spectrum of care: protocols to support pet owners’ budgets

How to support women while still running a successful business

The Vets expands to Raleigh, NC

Two pups find their forever homes while at Fetch Charlotte

View More Latest News
Advertisement