Campaign to Keep Myxomatosis Vaccine after new vacc launch

Concerns have been raised for the health compromised rabbits' ability to be vaccinated against myxomatosis when the new vaccine is launched as current plans are to stop the availability of the current single vaccine. A lot of health compromised rabbits currently are not vaccinated against VHD as it is considered too risky, therefore if only the combined vaccine is available it may not be possible to vaccinate them against myxomatosis either.

Please sign the petition if you support the cause:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-nobivac-myxomatosis-vaccine-available-after-launch.html

I've signed this

It is crazy to allow people's pets to be at risk of myxi because the drug companies want to save money with a combined vaccine.

I don't see how they will save money, they'll be selling less drugs

Yeah... and they'll save money but the new vaccine will cost us an arm and a leg no doubt!

IDIOTS!!!!!!!!

Signed and shared on Facebook

Definitely a step backwards, what we need is a more effective myxi vaccine not the same one slapped in with the VHD (and you have to wonder, will this mean a weakened immune response, rendering it even more impotent against newer strains of the virus?).

PS: I've shared this through our FB page.

This is a great worry to us , so signed

Sooz it is not the same vaccine in the new joint vaccine - according to my vet it is a proper live vaccine and will provide better cover. I am not sure that they are going to be able to withdraw the single vaccines. At the moment there is a question over whether the VHD bit of the injection will provide adequate protection for previously vaccinated buns so it may well be that all older buns will have to continue on the single vaccines.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:Sooz it is not the same vaccine in the new joint vaccine - according to my vet it is a proper live vaccine and will provide better cover. I am not sure that they are going to be able to withdraw the single vaccines. At the moment there is a question over whether the VHD bit of the injection will provide adequate protection for previously vaccinated buns so it may well be that all older buns will have to continue on the single vaccines.

There's been a lot of alarm from some information saying that the single vaccine will be no longer available immediately after the combined vaccine is fully rolled out. I believe the information is some that has been put out by the manufacturers that went out with "Rabbiting On" magazine.

cheryl'n'bruce'flo wrote:Sooz it is not the same vaccine in the new joint vaccine - according to my vet it is a proper live vaccine and will provide better cover.

Well that I am glad to hear. The Nobivac injection has been deficient for too long now, a revised vaccine was well over due.

I emailed 2 local vet practices, asking how safe they believed this new duo vaccine will be.
One head of practice vet said this:
“my worry would be that when myxo and cylap (vhd) where launched there where a number of very ill rabbits when the two vaccines are used together. Think there will be use for it but not for high risk patients”

Another vet at a different practice said this:
"You are quick off the mark with this one. We have on order but not yet available. Should be available imminently. This vaccine should give 12 months protections for both HVD and Myxo so will improve the way we can keep rabbits vaccinated greatly. Should be available by the end of this month or beginning of next."

So one was saying OK used with caution, and the other was eagelly waiting for it.

I assume as the vaccine for myxi is now live the need to vaccinate bi-annually has been removed too?

Sooz wrote:I assume as the vaccine for myxi is now live the need to vaccinate bi-annually has been removed too?

Yes. It's just the one vaccination yearly with this new vaccine.

It's made with the live virus so should offer much better protection for Myxomatosis. It's designed so that the immune system recognises it as one threat it's mounting a response to, not two with it being a combined vaccine so isn't like having 2 jabs at once. (FHB explained it much better to me than I can repeat back )

There is concern because the data sheet suggests that rabbits vaccinated with a different vaccine previously 'might not' have a full immune response to the VHD part. Though this has been explained by those that understand these things that in Europe they have had the live vaccine previously and rabbits that have had that vaccine in the past may not mount a full response. However, the new vaccine won't recognise the antibodies from our previous vaccine as it was not the live virus, so UK rabbits should be fully protected. This is an issue causing a lot of concern at the moment and a lot of people want clarity before using the new vaccine.

So, the main concerns are:
It might not protect against VHD
There are possible side-effects (then there always was with the previous vaccines)
For health compromised bunnies that the combined vaccine would be too much and just the single myxo would be preferable.

So, by mounting a response to seemingly 'one' threat, does that mean that the immune response will be stronger or weaker? I mean as in, if the rabbit thinks VHD & Myxi are the same disease is it just producing one super antibody that fights both? (I appreciate you might not be able to answer this, don't worry ).

Sooz wrote:So, by mounting a response to seemingly 'one' threat, does that mean that the immune response will be stronger or weaker? I mean as in, if the rabbit thinks VHD & Myxi are the same disease is it just producing one super antibody that fights both? (I appreciate you might not be able to answer this, don't worry ).

Not at the moment ... I do have a half hour appointment on Tuesday with someone who might though as 3 bunnies are having myxo vaccination.... it might take the whole half hour to get me to understand the answer though

Well if you do manage to get an answer I'd be interested to hear it.

I've asked the BVA for comments on this, will send these concerns over too.

Topics Merged

The nobivac myxo vaccine is going to be discontinued when the new combined vaccine is released. This is unfair, particularly to those rabbits who cannot have the VHD vaccine for medical reasons. Please read, sign and share this petition with facebook friends and family.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-nobivac-myxomatosis-vaccine-available-after-launch.html

I have signed this one https://happyhoppers.forumotion.co.uk/t15887-campaign-to-keep-myxomatosis-vaccine-after-new-vacc-launch

I think its the same one

I will get round to switching my laptop on and signing it. Been too busy moving furniture today

Big Ears wrote:

There's been a lot of alarm from some information saying that the single vaccine will be no longer available immediately after the combined vaccine is fully rolled out. I believe the information is some that has been put out by the manufacturers that went out with "Rabbiting On" magazine.

This is where I heard it.

Have signed.

It is the same one.....matt and I have both signed it.

I've signed again anyway

It wouldnt let me sign again. I didnt know it had already been posted though, must have missed it. Noone has an excuse not to sign now though!!