Adverse experiences to veterinary immunobiologicals and the profession's duty of care

Vaccination remains one of the most common veterinary procedures. Scant att ention is paid to the role and use of vaccines in the "herd health" of subu rban pet populations. A dichotomy of expectation and knowledge about vaccin es exist: on the one hand opinion suggests that all vaccines should be safe and efficacious whereas on the other, vaccines are considered hazardous. V accination is not a substitute for other equally important traditional husb andry and management practices to control diseases. Under the National Regi stration Authority Adverse Experience Reporting Program, many reported expe riences are associated with inappropriate case assessments or diagnoses and /or the improper use of products. Registered and practising veterinarians h ave a responsibility and duty of care in the use of products. Manufacturers likewise have to meet standards and legal obligations to both register and manufacture immunobiological products. The "off label" use of products, in cluding immunobiologicals, requires veterinary expertise. Maintaining high professional standards of veterinary "best practice" and public education w ill go a long way to present the benefits of vaccination in a balanced pers pective.