Carla,
 
I really didn't mean to say that no one should report vaccine reactions.  If
no one did then the manufacturers would never know there was a problem.  I
guess I was just expressing my fears concerning the rabies vaccine.  It is
the only one we have.  If it is pulled, then we face a ban on ferret again.
 
I've had two with vaccine reactions from it - one very serious.  I will
unlikely be able to vaccinate him again - "rock and hard place", with Public
Health as the rock and the vaccine reaction as the hard place.  I figure I'll
have to play the odds with the risk of PH executing him at sometime if he is
accused of biting someone (unlikely) against the odds of him dying from the
vaccine reaction (much more likely).  The other one with the less severe
reaction will have to be the vet's call later this year.  We may try
pre-treating her with an anti-hystimine before the vaccination, but even that
frightens me.
 
By the way, I did report the reactions to R. M.  and posted here on the FML a
FAX from R. M. giving the process for vets to use in reporting the reactions,
giving the particulars on: age of ferret, sex, early neuter/spay?, date of
distemper vaccination (they recommend two weeks minimum separation); how many
previous vaccinations the ferret had prior to this reaction (R. M.  feels
that the second through 4th shot is most likely to cause a reaction.)  R. M.
is looking for data.
 
Dick Bossart
[Posted in FML issue 1162]