June 2009 is National Vaccination Month.

Participating vets will once again be providing your unvaccinated pets (dogs,cats & rabbits) with discounted vaccinations as well as a free health check.

To print a voucher and locate a participating vet, check out the following link:

http://www.vaccinationmonth.co.uk

Please note that vouchers will not be available until 1st June 2009.

You may not need them yourself but maybe you know a neighbour or friend that will find this information useful?

Interesting.  The voucher says "saving up to £30 per pet".  But the small print says "....you should expect to pay no more than £50 for a complete course of vaccination and a health check".  As the going rate for dogs is usually between £50-£60 and they should be health checked before any Vet goes near them with a vaccination, I suspect that a lot of people won't read the terms and will be shocked when they get the bill.
I wonder how that would work out for rabbit vaccination?  I suppose that a Vet could reduce their charge by £1 and still be within the terms of the voucher?

As my vet takes £12 each total £24  I cant see people forming a queue with the voucher..

I have just come back from the vet with an empty pocket!!!
Three full boosters = £97.47
Three lots of worm pills plus small dose for pup = £27.88
One month supply of Analgeisia for two older slightly arthritic ladies!! = £78.41
TOTAL = £203.76
I actually though that was pretty reasonable. However had I saved "Up To £30 per dog" I would have been quids in LOL....
I have booked the Two older ladies in to be speyed at the end of the month....and have a couple of lumps and bumps removed at the same time...wonder what the bill will be then!!
Aileen

PS now I know why I go to work!!!!

> The voucher says "saving up to £30 per pet".  But the small print says "....you should expect to pay no more than £50 for a complete course of vaccination and a health check". 

Is that not saying you will get it for £20 then?  Seems like very good value to me.

>The voucher says "saving up to £30 per pet".  But the small print says "....you should expect to pay no more than £50 for a complete course of vaccination and a health check". 

It's aimed at the people who've allowed their pet's vaccination to lapse, and which therefore need a restart (according to the manufacturers). What the scheme is doing is allowing them to have a full course for the same price as just a booster.

Presuambly the pets will be given a puppy course for the price of a booster, but adults do not need a double dose because there is no maternal immunity left. What a rip off & also adding to the possibility of vaccinosis afterwards ! Bet I don't get any such offers from my vets as they know my views on boosters

>It's aimed at the people who've allowed their pet's vaccination to lapse, and which therefore need a restart (according to the manufacturers). What the scheme is doing is allowing them to have a full course for the same price as just a booster.

That is how I read it.

Maybe if anyone does take advantage of this offer they could 'report' back and let us know how they got on

As I understand it there is no need or justification for a restart of vaccinations.  A booster is a booster is a booster no matter how long since the last one.  As long as the animal is over 6 months old it will have a mature immune system.

the only reason for two sets of jabs initially is in case the first ones don't take due to interference of maternal antibodies.

That is true for all of the diseases vaccinated against except the leptospirosis.

Exactly Barbara! I had to argue with my Vet, but he's finally realised that I am not an average customer and now asks me what I want!!!

This may be worth it, my boy is due a booster in June, so will print a voucher off and see if i can use it when he goes in.

Do ask the 'normal' price on the phone before you go and see what they ask with the voucher afterwards.   I'd be really interested and hope that my interpretation of the small print is wrong.

> As I understand it there is no need or justification for a restart of vaccinations.  A booster is a booster is a booster no matter how long since the last one.  As long as the animal is over 6 months old it will have a mature immune system.
>
>

I just phoned our vet about a booster for the cat, it is 8 months overdue, and they insisted he would have to restart the course with two sets of jabs, this cat is a teenager and has had boosters many times before. So the charge would now be about £63 for the two sets. I will wait another week I think and try to get it done in June! 

I also don't see the need to 'restart' vaccinations.  But I know at my vet's, if you lapse over 3 months, then it's a case of restarting them...

Have just found out my insurance requires my dogs to be vaccinated. Have checked up with my vet whatthey think I need and because he has only has his original puppy vacs 2 years ago in July the insist that he needs the whole lot again and then annually there after.
I had not intended to have anymore vaccinations as I am not happy about the whole thing after reading and discussing with my homeopath SIL. but looks like I shall have to
Any views ?

i

Insurance companies will generally cover any conditions or injuries not related to the diseases that vaccinations cover so you could check this with them.  You could also ask them if they will accept a titre test.

>Have just found out my insurance requires my dogs to be vaccinated.

You will also find that virtually all boarding kennels also require animals to be routinely vaccinated.

Thanks i do not use kennels so thats not a problem, but I will ask my ins company if I am covered. for things not arising from lack of vaccinations. I asked about titre testing but the vet started talking about £25 for each disease to be tested plus one or two others that I didn't even know were included in the vaccines ie hepatitis. ATm I am having worries about the insurance generally as I asked my vet to completeda referral form to do some behaviour training as my dog is overly boisterous and tends towards bullying other dogs if they don't want to play. i am now told that because the word behaviour to the vets records has been introduced the Insurance company may not cover him should there  in the future  be any incident that he was involved in that may need  vet treatment.
Not that I am expecting this but accidents do happen.
I feel that I am going round in circles I only realised about the vaccines when I was trying to find out if behaviour was covered in my plan --- it isnt.
I now really need to have all four of my animals bought up to date to be fully covered by the Insurance at an average of in total that amounts to 200.00 I wasn't expecting, not to mention a spay (dog) and a castration  (cat)!!!
What it is to be animal lover and owner do you think my boss would sympathise and give me a pay rise LOL

> I also don't see the need to 'restart' vaccinations.  But I know at my vet's, if you lapse over 3 months, then it's a case of restarting them...

Exactly the same at my vet.  I do often wait until the 3 months is "almost" up before getting my boosters done, but if I go over, they always say the 2 jabs are needed. 

I don't know why vet's must think there is suddenly no immunity after the 3 month lapse!  I don't bother now, my dogs are titre tested, and they have come back as not needing boosters at all.  My vet doesn't even offer this service, I have to arrange it myself, just get the blood taken at the vet's - I think all vets should have titre testing available for those that want it, but my vet's attitude to it is almost anti.
My dogs do go to kennels at times - they are happy to accept the proof of titre testing saying that antibody levels are high enough not to need booster.

Before you take advantage of the National Vaccination Month marketing initiative, check out this YouTube link: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKjY0oyKe3A

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu-PRIjF02w

I think you will all find it really interesting:

Thanks Perry, I found that really informative and it's made me sure that my decision not to booster anymore is right

Who is that on the videos?

I think that's Catherine O'Driscoll of Canine Health Concern, Jan.

Thank you - that explains a lot.

I think that's Catherine O'Driscoll of Canine Health Concern

I didn't know what she looked like!   She's been collecting information for many years.

I usually vaccinate annually, but had a lot going on last year and let them lapse. My vet charges £45.99 for the full course(2 jabs, 2 weeks apart) but with the vouchers i only have to pay for a booster, which costs £19.99. As i have 5 dogs, i'm saving £130. Appointments are booked for this afternoon!

Who is that on the videos?

It's Catherine O'Driscoll and this is her website: http://www.canine-health-concern.org.uk/

So did anyone take this offer up?

We had about 30 people take it up at work.