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The Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has launched a project to enhance understanding of infectious diseases across Latin America and to advise veterinarians in the region on vaccination practice.

The three-year programme is the fifth project conducted by the VGG and is modelled on the successful project it ran in Asia between 2012 and 2014. During the three years of its work in Latin America, the VGG will conduct a review of infectious disease prevalence, vaccination practice, commercial and regulatory challenges and veterinary education in the region. It will culminate in the production of a VGG White Paper, setting out key recommendations for optimal vaccination practice in Latin America.

An umbrella organisation focused on enhancing the clinical care of companion animals, the WSAVA represents more than 160,000 veterinarians globally through 94 member associations. Its VGG, chaired by Professor Michael Day from the University of Bristol, UK, develops globally relevant recommendations for best practice in the vaccination of dogs and cats. It has published a set of Vaccination Guidelines, with accompanying fact sheets and FAQs, as a practical tool to support veterinarians in practice around the world.

The new project commenced with a visit to Argentina in August 2016 during which VGG Committee Members met with association leaders, academics, government regulators and industry veterinarians in a series of sessions in Buenos Aires. They also met a spectrum of first opinion veterinary practitioners and made site visits to a number of practices in Buenos Aires and Rosario. To support veterinary education, the team delivered two continuing education (CE) events, attended by 150 veterinarians in Buenos Aires and Rosario.

In advance of the visit, the VGG made available an online questionnaire survey collecting data on veterinary demographics, infectious disease occurrence and vaccination protocols. The survey was completed by almost 200 veterinarians and the data were presented during the CE events.

During the next three years, VGG Members will visit Brazil, Colombia and Mexico and will run the online survey in nine other WSAVA member countries in the region.

Commenting on the visit, Professor Day said: “The VGG is delighted to have the opportunity to continue our work by focusing on vaccination practice in this important area of the world. Pet ownership and veterinary practice is developing rapidly in Latin America and veterinarians in the region need to be informed of global trends for change in small animal vaccination that are occurring elsewhere. There are some unique challenges and significant regional infectious diseases (e.g. leishmaniosis) that will make this a particularly rewarding project. We are very pleased that this project is once again supported by MSD Animal Health. While the VGG works entirely independently, we would not be able to undertake these studies without the financial and local logistical support offered by MSD.”