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Explaining the difference between off- license and license.

A product license allows a drug company to advertise a medicine for a particular purpose. The license will state specifically the condition for which it is indicated and the dosage for this purpose. This license will be supported by clinical evidence.

Off- label or off- license simply means the drug is being used in a way that is not indicated in the product license but is advised by the drug company and other governing bodies to be effective. We can use this is in the context of vaccinations, as although the licensing indicates specific time frames in which to vaccinate, information and research from both vaccine manufacturers and international organisations such as the World Small Animal Veterinary Association  can give a different insight regarding prolonged immunity.

My dog is overdue for vaccination, will this require a primary vaccination course (two vaccines 4 weeks apart) or a booster?

We administer four core vaccinations in dogs: distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus (DHP) as a combination vaccine, and leptospirosis (L4) in a single core vaccine.

DHP can be administered every 3 years after the first course, however it is advised to boost at a year interval after the first course when this is given to puppies. It can be administered off license up to 6 months after the due date. L4 is administered at yearly intervals as a single booster and can be administered off license up to 6 months after the due date.

If your dog has had the starter course, and is late on the first booster, there is a window of up to 6 months (off license) to bring the vaccination up to date.

After this 6-month period, we recommend that the vaccine course for the DHP or L4 (or just the L4 depending at what stage of the 3-year vaccination cycle your dog is) is re-started. This will require two vaccinations, one month apart.

My cat is overdue for vaccination, will this require a primary vaccination course (two vaccines 3 weeks apart) or a booster?

Every cat receives one core combination vaccine which covers Feline Panleucopenia Virus, Feline Rhinotracheitis Virus and Feline Calicivirus Infections. Feline Leukemia vaccine is included in this combination for cats that go outside.

If your cat has had the starter course, and is late for the first booster, there is a 3-month off -license period to have this first booster.

There is some data that supports if cats have had both a starter course and a booster, they have sufficient immunity to last for 3 years (WSAVA, 2016).

I still require a restart as a result of lockdown restrictions, what do I do?

We are able to offer a vaccine amnesty in cases that meet certain eligibility criteria. In these cases, you will only be charged a booster when restarting a vaccination course. If your pet is outside of the off-license booster period, please discuss your options with our team to ensure your pet receives the full course to bring their immunity back to an effective level.