The Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has updated the Vaccination Guidelines it offers to veterinary surgeons.

The association says its Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines aim to provide globally applicable recommendations to help veterinary surgeons vaccinate in a standard and scientifically justified fashion.

The VGG has also updated the vaccination guidelines it offers to pet owners and breeders, as well as the series of fact sheets it has created on key global vaccine-preventable diseases of dogs and cats.

The original guidelines were published in 2007 as the WSAVA's initial response to the need for globally applicable recommendations on vaccination best practice. They were updated in 2010 and, since then, the VGG, which is supported exclusively by MSD Animal Health, has been focusing on issues relating to small companion animal infectious disease and veterinary education in Asia.

The 2015 release of the Canine and Feline Vaccination Guidelines is based on a new evidence-based classification system for vaccinology. It also includes a number of additional FAQs (110 in total). The guidelines for both vets and owners/breeders are available for free download at http://www.wsava.org/educational/vaccination-guidelines-group. Currently available in English, they are being translated into a number of languages.

Professor Michael Day, Chair of the VGG (pictured right), said: "The vaccination guidelines are one of the most frequently downloaded resources on the WSAVA's website and are gradually driving a change in vaccination practice throughout the world - a change which is set to have a major impact on day-to-day small animal practice.

"We are delighted to launch these updated versions both for veterinarians and for pet owners and breeders. We hope they will prove even more helpful and ensure that more small animals are vaccinated in a more scientifically-based, robust and safer fashion.

"We would like to thank MSD Animal Health which has been the sole sponsor of the VGG since its inception. Its support enables us to undertake our valuable work."

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