ONE-YEAR INACTIVATED RABIES VACCINES FOR DOGS AND CATS TO BE PHASED OUT

CFIA – ONE-YEAR INACTIVATED RABIES VACCINES FOR DOGS AND CATS TO BE PHASED OUT

​January 8, 2018
Canadian importers of rabies vaccines will be phasing out the importation of the “1-year” labelled inactivated rabies vaccines (i.e. rabies vaccines with a one-year DOI claim and an annual revaccination label recommendation for dogs and cats).
These vaccines will no longer be offered for sale in Canada after March 31, 2019.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sent a letter to inform provincial and territorial Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOS) of this change.
All inactivated rabies vaccines licensed for use in Canada are manufactured in the United States, and imported into Canada by a few Canadian importers.
Currently, rabies vaccines in Canada carry either a one-year or a three-year duration of immunity (DOI) claim and revaccination recommendations for dogs and cats.
The three-year vaccines are licensed for primary immunization of young animals as well as subsequent booster vaccination, and allow for use consistent with current American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) guidelines.
The three-year rabies vaccines in Canada may continue to be marketed with one-year revaccination recommendations for non-dog-and-cat species, as DOI beyond one year for these minor species has not been established.
Contact CFIA.CCVBManager-GestionnaireCCPBV.ACIA@inspection.gc.ca with questions 
Reprinted from CVMA News