Use vaccines correctly to protect the health of both pet owners and pets

In recent years, pets have increasingly been treated with love and care, akin to family members or close friends. With the rapid growth in the number of pet owners, there has been a corresponding surge in the demand for high-quality pet care products and services.

Today, pet owners are continually updating their knowledge to ensure the health and safety of both themselves and their pets. One of the key concerns is how to provide the best care for pets while safeguarding the health of pet owners, particularly in households with young children.

Responding to this growing concern, on the morning of April 4th, Olmix Asialand Vietnam Co., Ltd. and Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Vietnam, in collaboration with TrustVet Animal Hospital and the 2Vet Veterinary System, organized a seminar titled "Decoding vaccines and pet care from experts".

At the seminar, scientists and leading experts in the field of pet health care gathered to discuss and share valuable insights on how to protect both pets and their owners through correct vaccination practices. The experts also provided detailed information on the state of the veterinary industry in the Philippines and introduced new guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding vaccination programs for dogs and cats, as well as the use of recombinant vaccine technology that is being applied in the field.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tat Toan, President of the University of Agriculture and Forestry in Ho Chi Minh City, vaccinating pets plays a vital role in safeguarding them from dangerous infectious diseases. It is equally important to protect humans, particularly those who come into close contact with pets, from certain transmissible diseases. However, Dr. Toan emphasized that both veterinarians and pet owners must thoroughly understand the vaccination process and follow the correct protocols to ensure the highest level of protection for both pets and their owners.

Mr. Trinh Quang Thanh, General Director of Olmix Asialand Vietnam Co., Ltd., expressed that "Pets are increasingly becoming a trend in Vietnam. Therefore, we are committed to providing the most optimal solutions for comprehensive pet care, while ensuring the protection of pet owners. In addition, we aim to offer advanced, high-quality, and effective products to support the work of veterinarians across Vietnam".

Mr. Thanh shared that Olmix Asialand Vietnam is expected to launch the Recombitek C8 vaccine, which protects against 8 disease-causing agents in dogs. With advanced recombinant technology and 4 Lepto strains, it provides more comprehensive protection against zoonotic diseases transmitted from pets to humans. Recombitek C8 will be the perfect choice for veterinarians and pet owners.

Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo, a leading expert in the veterinary field in the Philippines, shared that Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Philippines is currently providing a wide range of recombinant vaccines to meet the growing vaccination needs in the country. The company is also actively organizing numerous activities and programs aimed at improving the technical knowledge and practical skills of veterinarians.

"Veterinarians in the Philippines are continuously striving to implement the latest guidelines and best practices in order to elevate the standard of care provided to pets", Dr. Ross Antonio Banayo emphasized.

The latest 2024 vaccination guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) have introduced a clear distinction between two types of vaccines: core vaccines and non-core vaccines.

Core vaccines are those that all dogs and cats worldwide must receive, as they provide essential protection against the most common and serious diseases. In contrast, non-core vaccines are optional and should be administered based on the specific epidemiological situation of the region.

New Vaccination Schedule: Core vaccines should be administered starting at 6 weeks of age and continue until 16 weeks, with each dose spaced 3-4 weeks apart. Specifically, the leptospirosis vaccine requires two doses, with the first one starting at 8 weeks of age.

Non-core vaccines will be given based on the local disease risks.

Impact of Maternal Antibodies: Maternal antibodies can influence the ability to develop immunity from vaccines, especially in animals with high levels of maternal antibodies.