vaccinations

• a vaccine helps your body learn how to fight off certain diseases, so if you ever encounter them, your body is already prepared to defeat them
• the antigens are the main paint of a vaccine, it is make from a weakened or inactive version of a virus or bacteria
• an adjuvant is a substance that helps your body's immune system respond more strongly to the antigen - a booster for your body's defences
• preservatives help keep the vaccine safe and effective during storage and transportation
• stabilisers help the vaccine not be damaged by light, heat or other factors
• vaccines work by training your body's immune system to recognise and fight off germs. this means you are less likely to get sick in the first place
• when enough people are vaccinated, it creates a 'herd immunity' effect, even if some people aren't vaccinated, the disease has a harder time spreading because there are fewer people to infect
• vaccines have helped to eradicate some illnesses and have significantly reduces cases of others
• what are some common things we vaccinate animals against?

  • rabies
  • distemper
  • feline leukaemia
  • canine parvovirus
• core vaccines are recommended regardless of their lifestyle or geographical location.
• non core vaccines are recommended for dogs and cats based on their specific lifestyle, geographical location and risk of exposure to certain diseases
• what are booster vaccines?

  additional doses of vaccines that are given after the initial vaccine series
• vaccines can be costly, especially for large-scale livestock operations. the cost may not always justify vaccinations for certain animals and diseases
• in some cases, vaccines cause stress or discomfort
• not all diseases have effective vaccines available
• what are some common side effects of vaccines?

  • lethargy
  • loss of appetite
  • increase in body temperature
  • vomiting or diarrhea
  • mild discomfort/soreness