Dr. Jean Dodds, Co-Trustee
"This is one of the most important projects in veterinary medicine. It will benefit all dogs by providing evidence that protection from rabies vaccination lasts at least 5 years, thereby avoiding unnecessary revaccination with its attendant risk of debilitating adverse reactions."
Kris Christine, Co-Trustee
"U.S. rabies immunization laws are not based on long-term duration of immunity studies. The RCF finances concurrent 5 and 7 year studies according to USDA vaccine licensing standards. The results will provide the scientific data base which state laws should reflect in order to avoid unnecessary over vaccination while maintaining immunity to rabies in the canine community."
Dr. Ron Schultz, Principal Investigator
"Because it is almost always fatal, Rabies is the most important zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from dogs and cats to human beings. The most effective way to prevent this zoonotic disease is by vaccinating dogs and cats. Showing that a vaccine for rabies can provide 5 or preferably 7 years of immunity would have great significance not only in controlling rabies but more importantly in reducing the adverse vaccine reactions that can occur in dogs and cats after vaccination."