Vaccination protects companion animals from serious diseases, but the appropriate schedule, frequency, and scope of vaccination requires careful consideration of individual welfare and risk factors.
Companion animal vaccination represents a genuine welfare balance between protection from disease and minimizing unnecessary procedures. The shift away from annual revaccination for core vaccines reflects evidence that protection lasts much longer than previously assumed, and that annual boosters provide minimal additional benefit while carrying small but real risks. Individual welfare is best served by initial vaccination following evidence-based core protocols, followed by revaccination at intervals supported by current immunological evidence and mandated by law where applicable. Lifestyle-based non-core vaccine selection avoids vaccinating against diseases the individual animal is not at risk for. Discussing vaccination schedules with a veterinarian who follows current guidelines provides the most welfare-positive approach.