Questions and Answers

Q: I received a phone call letting me know I need to have my pet revaccinated for rabies. What is this about?  What do I need to do?

A: Fort Dodge is a highly reputable veterinary vaccine company.  It recently conducted a quality assurance test, which indicated that the duration of protection with this rabies serial is shorter than it should be.   Because of this, the manufacturer is asking veterinarians to alert their clients about the issue.  To ensure pets are fully protected against rabies, animals that got this specific serial of the vaccine should be revaccinated.  There should not be a charge, as the manufacturer is covering the cost of revaccination.

Q: My pet just got all of his/her shots. Why do I need to have my pet revaccinated?

A: The animal needs to be revaccinated for rabies only.  The other vaccines are not at issue.

Q: Is my dog at risk of contracting rabies?

A: It is difficult to determine the individual risk to each dog. Revaccination is a precautionary measure to ensure your pet is fully protected against rabies.

Q: I heard other animal owners talking about a rabies vaccine recall, but I was never notified by my veterinarian.  Does my pet need to be revaccinated?

A:. If your animal did not get this specific production serial, there is no need for concern or for it to be revaccinated. All owners whose pets were affected by the voluntary recall have been notified. There is no need to be concerned about this situation.

Q: Why is the vaccine being recalled?

A: In the best interest of pets, owners, veterinarians and public safety from rabies, which is endemic in Wyoming, the vaccine manufacturer elected a  voluntary recall Rabvac 3 TF Serial 873113A because a quality assurance test indicated that the duration of protection was not what it should be.  The company has not indicated how short the duration of protection is, but it must be serious for them to do a recall.  Therefore if your animal was vaccinated with this serial, and you were advised to get your dog vaccinated, you should do it.

Q: Was this product tested for potency before it was sold to veterinarians?

A: Yes. As is true for all veterinary biological products sold in the US, the vaccine was tested for safety and effectiveness before it release onto the market. It was found to be safe and effective, meeting all USDA-approved testing requirements.

Q: My pet received other vaccines at the same time it got its rabies vaccine. Does my pet need to be revaccinated for everything?

A: No. There are no other vaccines included in this voluntary recall.

Q: What if I have more questions later on? Who do I call?

A: Contact either your veterinarian or Fort Dodge's professional services veterinarians: 800-533-8536.