The WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) was convened in 2006. The first guidelines were produced in 2007 and updated in 2010 and again in 2015. Guidelines for pet owners and breeders were produced in 2010 and updated in 2015.
In 2012-2014 the VGG worked in Asia and subsequently published guidelines for veterinarians in that continent. Next, the VGG worked in Latin America and produced another set of regional guidelines (2016-2019).
The VGG has had a sole sponsor – MSD Animal Health – throughout its history.
Mission
To produce and periodically update global vaccination guidelines for the dog and cat. To produce and periodically update information on vaccination for pet owners and breeders. To conduct regional projects assessing small companion animal infectious disease and vaccinology in those regions.
Vision
To provide evidence-based scientific advice to the global veterinary profession on optimum vaccination practice for dogs and cats.
Objectives
To provide continuing education on vaccinology.
Vaccination Guidelines Interview: Michael Day - Japanese
Vaccination Guidelines Article 01: Michael Day - Japanese
Vaccination Guidelines Article 02: Michael Day - Japanese
Vaccination Guidelines Article: Michael Day - Russian
Vaccination Guidelines Article: Michael Day - Czech
Small Animal Vaccination, a Practical Guide for UK Vets: Michael Day
Chair(s)
Prof. Mary Marcondes
Mary Marcondes qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the University of São Paulo (USP), Brazil, and completed a Residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine and Surgery at the same University. She holds an MSc in Clinical Veterinary Science from São Paulo State University (UNESP) and a PhD in Clinical Veterinary Science from the University of São Paulo (USP). Mary held postdoctoral positions in infectious diseases at the Department of Pathology, University of São Paulo Medical School, and at Dr Janet Foley’s Laboratory in Infectious Disease, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. She worked at São Paulo State University from 1992 to 2018, from where she retired as an Associate Professor of small animal internal medicine and infectious diseases. Her research focuses on companion-animal infectious diseases. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group (VGG) and is a member of the AFSCAN Project Board (WSAVA Foundation). She continues an active program of delivering continuing education in vaccinology and management of vector-borne and infectious diseases.
Members
Dr Cynda Crawford
Dr. Crawford is a Clinical Assistant Professor in Shelter Medicine and Director of the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program , an educational and discovery initiative with a global impact on the healthcare and welfare of homeless animals. Her areas of expertise include diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of infectious diseases in dogs and cats in sheltering facilities. She focuses on diagnosis and management of viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory infections in shelter dogs. Dr. Crawford’s accomplishments include discovery of canine influenza virus and development of the canine influenza vaccine. Educational achievements include partnering with Dr Julie Levy to develop the Professional Certificate in Shelter Medicine for advanced training of veterinary students in the knowledge and skills to serve as veterinarians in shelters.
Dr Richard Squires
Richard Squires graduated as a veterinarian from Bristol University in 1982. After a short spell in general practice he obtained postgraduate clinical training at the Universities of Cambridge and Pennsylvania and research training at Glasgow. His PhD was awarded for research in which he sought a retroviral aetiology for canine lymphoma. He is a Diplomate of both the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and he holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Diploma of Veterinary Radiology.
Richard held faculty positions at the Universities of Liverpool, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and at Massey University in New Zealand before moving to Australia in 2007. He led the veterinary clinical sciences team at James Cook University in Townsville, northern Australia from 2007 to 2022. Richard retired from JCU in late 2023 and currently teaches part time for the University of Adelaide. Throughout much of his career Richard has taught and assessed veterinary students in the broad discipline of canine and feline internal medicine. Most of his research has been on canine and feline infectious diseases. In addition, for five years in New Zealand, Richard taught and carried out research in veterinary virology. Richard was a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Scientific Advisory Committee from 2008-2020 and has been a member of the WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines Group since 2010. He was Chair of the WSAVA VGG from 2020-2023 during which time he led the development of the Michael J. Day Student Scholarship and the 2023 WSAVA Vaccination Guidelines. He remains a rank and file member of the VGG.Dr Nathaniel Whitley
Nat graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1992, and pursued advanced clinical training at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. After a year teaching at Sydney University he then focussed on immunology research, gaining a PhD from the University of Bristol for studies on novel mucosal peptide therapies for autoimmunity. In 2005 he joined Davies Veterinary Specialists, one of the UK’s leading private referral practices, as a medicine and cardiology clinician, where he has held a number of clinical and management positions, including Head of Medicine, and was the first to hold the post of Clinical Director.
Nat is a Diplomate of both the American and European Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine. He holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2017 for meritorious contributions to clinical practice.
Nat continues to enjoy providing high level care for referred patients, and teaching interns and residents. He has served on a number of committees for ECVIM and BSAVA, and has provided extensive continuing education for the profession in the field of internal medicine, especially immunology. He has authored and edited numerous scientific journal articles and contributed to the recent ACVIM consensus statement on the treatment of immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in dogs. His main interests in immunology are immune-mediated haematological diseases, immunosuppressive drug therapy, and the relationship between putative triggers and onset or relapse of immune-mediated conditions.
Dr Jerzy Gawor
Executive Board Liaison