You may be a party to a
potential class action lawsuit arising from the misrepresentation of the
need for vaccinations for your pets.
If, within the last four
years, you have paid for any of the following pet vaccinations without
receiving adequate disclosure, you may have a claim for damages. The
vaccines include the following:
1) Annual vaccination for canine
distemper, parvovirus, and feline distemper, rhinotracheitis,
calcivirus
(Scientific studies indicate that repeat administration of these
vaccines provides no beneficial effect.)
2) Corona virus vaccination.
(Scientific studies indicate dogs over 8 weeks old are not
susceptible to this disease.)
3) Leptospirosis or Lyme disease
vaccination
(Research indicates these diseases are rare to non-existent in Texas
and many other parts of the country.)
4) Feline Aids vaccine, Feline
Infectious Peritonitis vaccine, or Giardia vaccine
(Scientific studies have shown these vaccines to be ineffective.)
If you have paid for any of the above
vaccinations in the last four years and would like information
concerning your rights, please fill out our questionnaire.
Companion Animal Vaccine Questionnaire
Lincoln County Weekly -- June
16, 2005
State Recommends Veterinarians
Provide Vaccine Disclosure
by Aaron Miller
AUGUSTA -- A state committee recently
encouraged Maine veterinarians to inform pet owners of the recommended
interval for administering vaccines.
Senate Chair Sen. John Nutting and
House Chair Rep. John Piotti wrote to the Maine Veterinary Medical
Association President Matt Townsend earlier this month, asking
veterinarians to provide pet owners with that information. The
association consists of Maine veterinarians and volunteers and
represents over 90 percent of veterinarians in Maine.
The June 3 letter came after the
state's Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted
Wiscasset Rep. Peter Rines' proposed legislation requiring
veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms ought not to pass.
The Maine Veterinary Medical
Association opposed Rines' LD 429, a bill that would require a
veterinarian to provide a vaccine disclosure form to the owner of a
cat or dog before vaccinating those animals. The proposal came after
Kris Christine, of Alna, said she inadvertently learned her
veterinarian administered a vaccination her pet did not need.
The vaccine disclosure is aimed at
releasing information regarding proven or demonstrated durations of
immunity as well as advantages and disadvantages of vaccines.
"We strongly encourage Maine
veterinarians to inform pet owners of the recommended interval for
administering a vaccine and potential risks associated with that
vaccine," Nutting and Piotti wrote. "We realize that immunology is
not a static field and the science is complex. We do not propose to
dictate the detail of information provided. We do, however, want to
emphasize the importance of information being available at
veterinarian's offices."
Nutting and Piotti requested the Maine
Veterinary Medical Association apprise the Committee on Agriculture,
Conservation and Forestry of any materials or guidelines developed by
the association in regard to the committee's request.
"We would like to know the extent to
which these guidelines or materials are being incorporated in your
members' veterinary practices," Nutting and Piotti wrote.
In an interview June 14, Townsend said
that the Maine Veterinary Medical Association is not opposed to the
committee's request. Townsend added that the veterinary association
is currently in the process of including information about vaccines on
the association's website. Different opinions on vaccinations and
protocols are planned to be posted, he said.
"We have never been opposed to the
legislature saying we'd like for you to offer some type of pamphlet,"
Townsend said. "But we have questions about what pamphlets we should
use."
The committee does not make any
recommendation in the June 3 letter.
"I don't think a pamphlet is the one
answer or the best answer," Townsend said. "It is a step that can be
quite helpful for a lot of clinics. The whole concept we are in favor
of."
Although pleased with the committee's
request, Christine remains skeptical.
"I personally don't believe a majority of
veterinarians will provide disclosure," Christine said. "I think it
will be necessary for the committee to introduce the bill in
December."
If veterinarians refuse to disclose
vaccine information, Christine recommended pet owners contact their
representatives.
"Pet owners are entitled to full
disclosure," Christine said. "They deserve to know how long these
vaccines have been proven for immunity."
