Taking place during National Pet Month, NOAH is supporting the first annual World Animal Vaccination Day on 20 April 2016.
Launched by global bodies HealthforAnimals and the World Veterinary Association (WVA), the day will raise awareness of the vital role vaccines play in protecting the health of animals and often, as a result, people too.
The focus of the first World Animal Vaccination Day is the importance of cat vaccination and keeping these vaccines up to date. Vaccination can prevent terrible suffering and even death in our cats. For example, with feline leukaemia, 80-90% cats infected die within 3-4 years. But vaccination can help prevent this. Thanks to vaccination helping to keep disease levels down, less than 1-2% of healthy cats in the world are infected by feline leukaemia[1] .
NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard says: “An animal cannot tell you how it is feeling, although diligent owners can spot signs that something is not right. But with some of the diseases, such as feline leukaemia, which can be prevented by vaccination, signs of illness may mean it is already too late.”
Vaccination by responsible owners has kept a check many diseases, but control is not the same as eradication, and with over a quarter of the cat population never having been vaccinated[2], diseases such as feline leukaemia, as well as infectious enteritis, chlamydia and cat flu, are still around.
“Disaster could be ready to strike,” says Mrs Howard. “The new cat on the street, the stray that sneaks in through the cat flap; they could be harbouring disease, which could infect your cat if it is not fully protected”. Talk to your vet about how best to protect your cat, and what vaccinations they need. This can depend on your cat’s lifestyle and contact with other cats.
“In the UK 1.7 million cats are not registered with a vet[2]. While a NOAH study showed 50% pet owners would spare no expense to treat their pet if it was ill[3], vaccination is the most effective and least expensive way to keep your cat healthy in the first place.”
“We are pleased to support HealthforAnimals and WVA as they launch this celebration of the value of animal vaccination to the health of our pets and indeed our own health. With 75% of all new human pathogens originating from animals, vaccines are key to limiting the future spread of infectious diseases between animals to people around the world” she added.
Ends
[1] http://icatcare.org/advice/cat-health/feline-leukaemia-virus-felv
[2] PDSA Pet Animal Welfare Report (PAW Report) 2015 https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/our-current-campaigns/pdsa-animal-wellbeing-report
[3] Stats on our pet obsessions were taken from research carried out on behalf of NOAH by Opinion Matters among 1,094 small pet owners over the age of 18 living in the UK between 30 July and 08 August 2012
Notes for Editors
NOAH (National Office of Animal Health) represents the UK animal medicines industry: its aim is to promote the benefits of safe, effective, quality medicines for the health and welfare of all animals. See more at www.noah.co.uk. NOAH is a trustee of National Pet Month, an educational charity. More details on www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk.
NOAH’s Pet Health Information (PHI) www.pethealthinfo.org.uk website for pet owners gives easy access, immediate, independent advice and was written by veterinary experts. It carries no advertisements and makes no mention of product brands, aims to give sound advice but also promotes the value of expert advice – it encourages owners to go and talk to an expert such as their veterinary surgeon or a pet care specialist.
NOAH is a trustee of National Pet Month which runs from 1 April-2 May 2016 – for more information see www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk
NOAH is a member of HealthforAnimals, an organisation representing manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in both developed and developing countries across five continents. The mission of HealthforAnimals is to foster a greater understanding of animal health matters and promote a predictable, science-based regulatory environment that facilitates the supply of innovative and quality animal medicines, vaccines and other animal health products into a competitive market place. These products contribute to a healthy and safe food supply as well as a high standard of health and welfare for animals and people. For further information on HealthforAnimals visit: http://healthforanimals.org/
World Veterinary Association
The WVA represents around 500.000 veterinarians around the world through its member associations and is recognised and respected as the trusted and influential voice of global veterinary medicine. The WVA mission is to assure and promote animal health and welfare and public health globally, through developing and advancing veterinary medicine, the veterinary profession as well as public and private veterinary services. For further information: www.worldvet.org
A logo has been designed to highlight this new awareness day and will help mark the day through social media campaigns on both twitter and Facebook:
HealthforAnimals is on Twitter as @Health4Animals
World Veterinary Association is on Facebook.
Follow NOAH on Twitter as @UKNOAH, and through the I Heart my Pet campaign @IheartmypetUK and on Facebook
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