Although you may be used to getting your cat vaccinated every year against some diseases, there has been growing concern that cats may be revaccinated or "boostered” too often. In fact, several studies have shown that some yearly vaccines may protect cats for longer than 1 year and that vaccinating every year may have some unnecessary risks.1-3 Major universities and groups such as the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) are now recommending vaccinations every 3 years against certain common or core cat diseases, including herpes virus, calicivirus, panleukopenia, and rabies.4
References
1. Klingborg DJ, Hustead DR, Curry-Galvin EA, et al. AVMA Council on Biologic and Therapeutic Agents’ report on cat and dog vaccines. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2002;221:1401-1407.
2. Schultz RD. Current and future canine and feline vaccination programs. Vet Med. 1998;93:233-254.
3. Smith CA. Current concepts: Are we vaccinating too much? J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1995;207:421-425.
4. 2000 Report of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and Academy of Feline Medicine Advisory Panel on Feline Vaccines. AAFP. Accessed February 2006 at www.aafponline.org/resources/guidelines/vaccine.pdf.