(Part two of two) In response to several expressions of interest, here is some background information on the distemper vaccine survey, including survey method, data aggregation strategy, assumptions, criteria, and important "cuts" of the aggregated raw data from the questionnaires. The percentage breakdowns may be found in a separate posting, titled "Vaccine survey report," as disseminated in the October 93 Independent Voice. The survey form was distributed nationwide in early 1993 to shelters and clubs through their newsletters, to veterinarians and private ferret enthusiasts, and was posted online on several different boards (inter alia GEnie, CIS Pet Forum, and FML). Respondents were asked to specify the brand or brands of vaccine used; the number of ferrets on which each vaccine was used; the month and year; whether vaccine was administered by DVM or non-DVM; where on the body the ferret was injected; whether vaccine was warmed to room temperature before being injected; whether the sterile solution packaged with the vaccine was used; and what percent of animals reacted in particular ways. In addition to the "other problems" option, choices offered were no reaction, stings, screams, lethargy, vomiting, and seizures. Respondents were also asked to provide the lot number & date on the vaccines and to state whether the distemper vaccine was given in conjunction with a rabies vaccination. Copies of the raw questionnaire responses were sent to Dr. Starling at USDA and to Roger Brady at United. For our own compilation of the responses, we grouped and categorized reactions as minor, medium, or severe. Where a single vaccine administration was reported as having elicited more than one reaction (e.g. stinging and convulsions), only the most severe reaction was counted, to avoid the distortion of duplications. If no specific vaccine was named, the entire response was disregarded, and if the number of administrations was not reported, it was arbitrarily counted as "1". Then the data was analyzed to see how the picture changed depending on vaccine administrator, injection site, simultaneous administration of rabies vaccine, etc. The most meaningful variables proved to be the injection site, administrator (vet or not), and brand. Only results for injection of Fromm-D and Fervac-D were tabulated, because the number of injections of other vaccines reported (a few dozen) was too small to make statistically significant inferences. To preclude any "repeat voting," respondents were required to identify themselves (name, address, telephone), and several respondents were called to verify or clarify the information they provided. Questionnaires returned without identification of respondent were discarded. The GCFA shelter provided the numerically largest sample of data (several hundred injections), but unfortunately their questionnaire was returned too close to press time to be tabulated in our report and is therefore not reflected in the figures below. Had the GCFA figures been used, they would have increased the percentage disparities in reactions between Fervac-D and Fromm-D but not materially affected the results respecting injection administrator or injection site. For the statistically inclined, here are the aggregated raw data on which our report of survey responses was based. (Apologies if the columns turn out not quite properly aligned.) [I took the liberty of fixing them.] I. Responses by reaction: (listed in order of increasing severity; only most serious reaction counted) Total Fervac-D Fromm-D Sample size: 1372 508 864 No reaction: 1173 362 811 Stinging: 161 120 41 Screaming: 13 12 1 Lethargy: 19 10 9 Vomiting 3 1 2 Seiz/Coma: 2 2 0 Death: 1 1 0 II. DVM-administered only: Total Fervac-D Fromm-D Sample size: 258 160 98 No reaction: 246 150 96 Stinging: 6 6 0 Screaming: 2 2 0 Lethargy: 2 1 1 Vomiting: 1 0 1 Seiz/Coma: 0 0 0 Death: 1 1 0 III. Self-administered only: Total Fervac-D Fromm-D Sample size: 1114 348 766 No reaction: 927 212 715 Stinging: 155 114 41 Screaming: 11 10 1 Lethargy: 17 9 8 Vomiting: 2 1 1 Seiz/Coma: 2 2 0 Death: 0 0 0 IV. Injection at shoulder or neck only: Total Fervac-D Fromm-D Sample size: 986 258 728 No reaction: 901 189 712 Stinging: 48 43 5 Screaming: 13 12 1 Lethargy: 19 10 9 Vomiting: 2 1 1 Seiz/Coma: 2 2 0 Death: 1 1 0 V. Injection at hip, rump, or leg: Total Fervac-D Fromm-D Sample size: 386 250 136 No reaction: 272 173 99 Stinging: 113 77 36 Screaming: 0 0 0 Lethargy: 0 0 0 Vomiting: 1 0 1 Seiz/Coma: 0 0 0 Death: 0 0 0 For purposes of grouping reactions into minor, medium, and severe, we treated stinging as minor, screaming and lethargy as medium, and vomiting and seizures or coma as severe. --Ann Davis. [Posted in FML issue 0719]