Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 01:44:54 GMT

[quote user="James Laidlaw"]So does that mean the entire 12 week/3 month vaccination schedule goes out the window and puppies as old as 7 weeks (vaccine at 4) could be imported? And if so they must then be booster vaccinated at 12 weeks? Who's going to be following those up?[/quote]

I don't think so. The pet passport rules state a single rabies vaccine then 3 week wait. I assume a short duration of immunity in such young animals, but the vaccine is not magically going to be keeping the virus at bay. The follow up injections are null and void once the animal is here.

If you were completing the passport for such an animal you'd only put valid until date as the 12 week booster.

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Rob Loxley — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 08:38:33 GMT

[quote user="Pete Andrew"]A good case for standardising things across Europe - easier for us and much easier for the immigration/ferry/border staff[/quote]

Unfortunately it seems Defra/AH are happy to allow the cross-channel operators to do all the checking, who have an extremely poor understanding of the rules, no incentive to strictly implement them, and no checks on their performance. I saw this having seen in the last couple of weeks animals arrive with passports missing such entries as the date-of-birth, and waved through!

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

James Laidlaw — Sat, 13 Jul 2013 07:08:28 GMT

So does that mean the entire 12 week/3 month vaccination schedule goes out the window and puppies as old as 7 weeks (vaccine at 4) could be imported? And if so they must then be booster vaccinated at 12 weeks? Who's going to be following those up?

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Pete Andrew — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 23:29:05 GMT

Indeed - hence the original post.

What I find most surprising is the variation between European countries data sheets for the same rabies vaccinations. Perhaps I will just assume in the future that the vaccinating vet got it right? They should know the rules, after all.

A good case for standardising things across Europe - easier for us and much easier for the immigration/ferry/border staff.

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Rob Loxley — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 22:43:08 GMT

And worth remembering that the passport regulations just say the rabies vacc to be given in accordance with manufacturer recommendations - be that 12w, 3m or earlier as above

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

mariette asselbergs — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:17:54 GMT

Thanks for that!

Nice and factual and kills off long threads of speculative accusations to all sides. Also amazing that the same product can be licensed in such different way in different countries! You live and learn.....

Mariette

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Pete Andrew — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:02:04 GMT

OK, so here's the info.....

Datasheet recommendations for Rabisin in Belgium are very different. Licenced to be given from 4 weeks if the mother is unvaccinated, from 3 months if the mother is vaccinated. Booster at 6m old if given before 3m old.

I'm breathing a sigh of relief.... Merial UK were very helpful, and had quite a lot of info to hand regarding other European countries.

You'd think some kind of European standardisation may be useful here.

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Thomas Johnson — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 09:32:44 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

According to the Hungarian license for MSD's Nobivac, vaccination may be given at less than 3 months, but a booster MUST be given at 3 months and 6 months in this case, no matter what.

[/quote]

The UK datasheet for Nobivac Rabies is similar to the Hungarian one, it says, "Primary vaccination may be administered at an earlier age (minimum in dogs and cats of 4 weeks of age), but then a repeat vaccination must be given at the age of 3 months." The Merial Rabisin datsheet says the minimum age is 3 months. If the Rabisin datsheet is similar in Belgium to the Nobivac Rabies datasheet there still may be a problem, the DEFRA website says, "If the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet requires more than one vaccination to complete the primary course of vaccinations, the 21 day wait applies from the date of the final vaccination of that course."

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 08:38:23 GMT

According to the Hungarian license for MSD's Nobivac, vaccination may be given at less than 3 months, but a booster MUST be given at 3 months and 6 months in this case, no matter what.

I know that's not Belgium, and I know it's not even Merial, but it's at least EU and at least rabies vaccine.

(And yes, I know how ridiculous the above sentence sounds. "It's not an apple, it's an orange, and it's not even the same country, but it's a fruit...")

Re: Any info on Rabisin vaccination in Belgium?

Christopher Saul — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 00:27:40 GMT

Why not ring Merial's UK support line? They should be able to tell you.

I can't see why the licence would be different - I think this puppy may need to be quarantined ...