From:
Sue M.
Date: 2001-03-09 04:24:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Vaccines
It is very true that likely the biggest problem about giving the
vaccinations every year is that the research hasn't been done to
show how long they *do* last...and that should be, but there isn't a
lot of money in ferret research.
Question for the vets...what about titer tests? How
difficult/expensive are they (ballpark, since what vets charge for
office and such will vary obviously). Are there any ways to guess
how much longer an immunity will stand based on numbers (i.e.
maybe another 6 months? a year? etc.) so that concerned
owners...especially ones with older and/or otherwise compromised
ferrets can know if the ferret may be protected for another little
while or not?
I do know the tricky thing is the for how much longer part...will they
be protected for another week, six months, another year?
How much money DOES it take for these studies? Money for
acquiring the ferrets, housing and feeding and caring for them for
however long it takes...years in this case (hopefully), covering the
costs of the vaccines (even if the companies do it themselves, it
still costs them to produce it). It ends up being a chunk of money.
What can we lay-people do to help aside from donating money?
Would doing titers in various vet practices get enough suggestion
that studies *should* be done for how long a single shot will last (or
a buildup?)
Excuse me if I'm not making sense or not using the proper
terms...hopefully the meaning will get across *L* I'm tired!
Sue M.
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