Owners reassured over reported shortages of pet vaccines

The British Veterinary Association has sought to reassure owners over a reported shortage of certain pet vaccinations.

The assurance came after a veterinary practice in Essex emailed members to say it had to prioritise puppies, kittens, and first-year vaccine boosters until the situation gets better

A report in the Daily Express said the Wylie Veterinary Centre warned annual vaccine boosters will be delayed by three months and that it was safe to do and follows manufacturers recommendations.

In an email to customers, the centre said: “As yet we are unsure as to when the issue will be rectified, we are in constant contact with vaccine manufacturers and there will be further updates as we receive them.”

The vaccines shortage is thought to be a result of a number of reasons, including an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic leading to a spike in demand for vaccinations and practices needing to catch up on vaccines and boosters that were delayed during lockdown.

Responding to the issue, BVA President Justine Shotton said: “We have been hearing anecdotally from members about a shortage of certain pet vaccines, especially cat vaccines. We expect this is due to a number of issues, including an increase in pet ownership during the pandemic leading to a rise in demand.

‘Prioritise allocations’

“Vets are working with vaccine suppliers to manage the needs of their clients and may need to prioritise allocations. Your vet may be in contact if delays are likely, but we’d like to emphasise that a short-term delay shouldn’t be cause for concern for either pet or public health.”

The BVA is continuing to keep a careful watch on the situation and will share further updates as they become available.

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