Update
Since writing this article, I’ve learned a lot about vaccines, and I’ll be updating it. The PureVax vaccine remains the safest, but watch the three videos below about over-vaccination. Titer testing will be discussed in another article.
There are numerous other articles and videos on the subject, but here are three that summarizes it very well:
The Dangers of Vaccine Overdosing Pets
PureVax Non-Adjuvanted Rabies Vaccine is available in 3-year doses. Did you know that almost all vaccines administered to cats in most animal hospitals are “adjuvanted” or “killed” vaccines? This means that they have included substances known as adjuvants to boost the immune response. This, however, is not a good thing. A malignant tumor called feline injection-site sarcoma (FISS) can form at the injection site in an estimated 1 in 10,000 cats. In the majority of these cases, the vaccine was injected in the shoulder blade area, and the result is often fatal. A non-adjuvanted vaccine such as PureVax does not contain these added chemicals. It is still possible for a cat to get it, but the risks are much lower.
You could argue that 1 in 10,000 is a minor risk. If you were to play the lottery, I believe you would have a better chance of winning with those odds. This vaccine can be difficult to locate, so you may need to call around to find it. This vaccine is a better option for cats because it is less likely to cause vaccine reactions. Unfortunately, the manufacturer’s website does not include a search for animal hospitals that have the vaccine. You never know if your cat will be the one that reacts to an adjuvanted vaccine, and it is possible that could happen even up to ten years after the injection.
If you live in Brunswick County, NC, we found a few places where you can get this vaccine. If you go to one of these, make sure you ask for it. We have no ties to any of these companies listed here or the company that makes this vaccine. We simply want you to receive the safest immunization for your cat.
Animal Hospitals in the area that offer the PureVax Vaccine:
Capeside Animal Hospital – Belville, NC (Leland)
Clinics:
We did have the PetVet Clinic at various locations, including Tractor Supply and Petsense, but we discovered that they only offer the one-year dose at this time. As a result, we cannot recommend them. They want you to return each year, spending more money and potentially over-vaccinating your pet. If they truly want to protect your pet from injection site sarcomas, they should provide a three-year dose of this vaccine, in my opinion. They are increasing the chances of this happening by only offering the one-year dose.
Some people have done more research on the subject and claim that the one-year and three-year versions of vaccines are precisely the same, just labeled differently. Many websites also claim this same statement. We have no opinion on this but will attempt to confirm this with the company if they are willing to reveal this information. If at all possible, we recommend the three-year dose because every time your cat receives an injection, the injection site could become inflamed. The fewer injections you have to give your cat, the better.