SELF AMPLIFYING RNA VACCINES FOR PETS
SA RNA Vaccines
Q: How does a self amplifying RNA vaccine work?
A: The vial contains RNA as well as replicase genes so that the RNA can replicate itself inside of cells. The coating around the RNA and replicase genes allows it to target Dendritic cells (a type of immune cell that processes antigens). Inside the Dendritic cell, millions of copies of the proteins of the antigen are created. Then the Dendritic cell presents the antigen protein to other immune cells like B and T cells, thus creating a systemic immune response.
Q: What is the name of the vaccine?
A: Merk Nobivac NXT FeLV, Nobivac NXT Canine Flu H3N2 and Nobivac Rabies NXT (available soon)
Q: How does it affect pets?
A: Replicates in the organs and spreads throughout the pet’s body and brain.
Q: Are the long-term effects known?
A: No, long-term effects are unknown.
Q: What are the potential side effects?
A: For the Rabies vaccine they found increased aggression, salivation, seizures, vertigo, paralysis, and death.
Q: Was there independent lab testing for safety?
A: No, there was no independent lab testing for safety.
Q: Who tested the vaccine and for how long?
A: Merk only tested their own Rabies NXT vaccine for 14 days.
Q: Were the test results peer-reviewed or made public?
A: No, the results were never peer-reviewed nor made available to the public.
Q: How many animals were used in the Rabies NXT experiment?
A: 38 dogs and cats were used.
Q: What happened to the animals at the end of the experiment?
A: 35 were euthanized at the end of the 2 weeks. Again, data was not made available to the public.
Q: Which Nobivac NXT vaccines are currently available?
A: Nobivac NXT Feline Leukemia and Nobivac NXT canine flu H3N2 only (no H3N8).
Q: What are the characteristics of these injections?
A: They are expensive and have limited data on shedding from pets.
Q: What are the potential risks of these injections to human owners?
A: They may shed sa mRNA and synthetic antigens to human owners through breath, saliva, or fluids.
Q: What are the potential long-term risks to pets?
A: They may cause long-term genetic damage similar to that seen in humans.
Q: What is another potential risk of these injections?
A: They may recombine with wild viruses, creating dangerous new pathogens.
Q: What should a pet parent ask when visiting the vet for vaccines?
A: My experience has been that there is no real awareness that the new vaccine has been ordered and is in use by the vet or the staff. So specifically ask if the vaccine is NXT. Ask to look at the label. Do not just let them take your pet to the treatment area and administer the vaccine. If the only option the vet has is NXT, then decide if you want to decline it and call elsewhere for the more traditional vaccine option. It can save you time and money to call ahead to your vet and ask which product they are carrying.
Q: What is in the traditional vaccines given to pets?
A:The manufacturers are not required to disclose that information. I have personally called the manufacturers and was told it is a “proprietary blend”. We can assume it is very similar to human vaccines.
Q: If pet parents have to get vaccines, are there some that are better than others?
A: There is a Thimerosol free (TF) Rabies vaccine made by Boehringer Ingelheimer.
A: Nobivac Canine DAPv 3 year- has fewer antigens than a lot of other Distemper, Parvo vaccines and if given to puppies at 9 weeks and 13 weeks old, it is labeled as a 3 year vaccine and does not need to be boosted again a year later.
Q: Is there an alternative to boosting vaccines regularly?
A: Yes- titer testing. Measuring antibody levels for dogs for Distemper virus, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, Leptospirosis, and Rabies. For cats we can measure Panleukopenia virus, Calicivirus, Herpes virus and Rabies.