It's official -- the lawfirm of the Chicago lawfirm of Childress Duffy Goldblatt, Ltd. (petvaccine@childresslaw.net) 312-494-0200 -- attorneys Roy R. Brandys and John Sawin has posted an announcement on their website about the pet vaccine class action lawsuit that their firm is undertaking at http://www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp (text below). Beneath the text of the announcement posted on the Childress website is an article from the Lincoln County Weekly about the letter that Maine's Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Committee sent to the Maine Veterinary Medical Association on June 3, 2005 strongly recommending that veterinarians in the state give pet owners vaccine disclosure information. Pet owners I have beeen coming into contact with have stated that their veterinarians are still not giving them any disclosure materials.

Please e-mail me back if you would like a copy of the letter to the MVMA or have any questions.
Regards, Kris

http://www.childresslaw.net/CM/Custom/Custom52.asp
You may be a party to a potential class action lawsuit arising from the misrepresentation of the need for vaccinations for your pets.

If, within the last four years, you have paid for any of the following pet vaccinations without receiving adequate disclosure, you may have a claim for damages. The vaccines include the following:

1) Annual vaccination for canine distemper, parvovirus, and feline distemper, rhinotracheitis, calcivirus
(Scientific studies indicate that repeat administration of these vaccines provides no beneficial effect.)

2) Corona virus vaccination.
(Scientific studies indicate dogs over 8 weeks old are not susceptible to this disease.)

3) Leptospirosis or Lyme disease vaccination
(Research indicates these diseases are rare to non-existent in Texas and many other parts of the country.)

4) Feline Aids vaccine, Feline Infectious Peritonitis vaccine, or Giardia vaccine
(Scientific studies have shown these vaccines to be ineffective.)

If you have paid for any of the above vaccinations in the last four years and would like information concerning your rights, please fill out our questionnaire.

Companion Animal Vaccine Questionnaire

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Necessary or Not? Some Veterinarians and Pet Owners are Questioning Vaccines: http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050612/REPOSITORY/506120373/1013/NEWS03

Lincoln County Weekly -- June 16, 2005
State Recommends Veterinarians Provide Vaccine Disclosure
by Aaron Miller

AUGUSTA -- A state committee recently encouraged Maine veterinarians to inform pet owners of the recommended interval for administering vaccines.

Senate Chair Sen. John Nutting and House Chair Rep. John Piotti wrote to the Maine Veterinary Medical Association President Matt Townsend earlier this month, asking veterinarians to provide pet owners with that information. The association consists of Maine veterinarians and volunteers and represents over 90 percent of veterinarians in Maine.

The June 3 letter came after the state's Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry voted Wiscasset Rep. Peter Rines' proposed legislation requiring veterinarians to provide vaccine disclosure forms ought not to pass.

The Maine Veterinary Medical Association opposed Rines' LD 429, a bill that would require a veterinarian to provide a vaccine disclosure form to the owner of a cat or dog before vaccinating those animals. The proposal came after Kris Christine, of Alna, said she inadvertently learned her veterinarian administered a vaccination her pet did not need.

The vaccine disclosure is aimed at releasing information regarding proven or demonstrated durations of immunity as well as advantages and disadvantages of vaccines.

"We strongly encourage Maine veterinarians to inform pet owners of the recommended interval for administering a vaccine and potential risks associated with that vaccine," Nutting and Piotti wrote. "We realize that immunology is not a static field and the science is complex. We do not propose to dictate the detail of information provided. We do, however, want to emphasize the importance of information being available at veterinarian's offices."

Nutting and Piotti requested the Maine Veterinary Medical Association apprise the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry of any materials or guidelines developed by the association in regard to the committee's request.

"We would like to know the extent to which these guidelines or materials are being incorporated in your members' veterinary practices," Nutting and Piotti wrote.

In an interview June 14, Townsend said that the Maine Veterinary Medical Association is not opposed to the committee's request. Townsend added that the veterinary association is currently in the process of including information about vaccines on the association's website. Different opinions on vaccinations and protocols are planned to be posted, he said.

"We have never been opposed to the legislature saying we'd like for you to offer some type of pamphlet," Townsend said. "But we have questions about what pamphlets we should use."

The committee does not make any recommendation in the June 3 letter.

"I don't think a pamphlet is the one answer or the best answer," Townsend said. "It is a step that can be quite helpful for a lot of clinics. The whole concept we are in favor of."

Although pleased with the committee's request, Christine remains skeptical.

"I personally don't believe a majority of veterinarians will provide disclosure," Christine said. "I think it will be necessary for the committee to introduce the bill in December."

If veterinarians refuse to disclose vaccine information, Christine recommended pet owners contact their representatives.

"Pet owners are entitled to full disclosure," Christine said. "They deserve to know how long these vaccines have been proven for immunity."

Aaron Miller may be reached at amiller@courierpub.com.