Vaccinations are as important as ever, and there is a great deal of misunderstanding on this topic amongst pet owners.
I used to write a weekly vet column for the Telegraph newspaper in the UK. I no longer write in the printed newspaper, but they do still ask me to write various online articles and more recently, I have started to do some video reels for the Telegraph. My latest video, which you can watch here, is about whether or not pets always need annual vaccination boosters. In this blog post, I’m adding a bit more detail to this important topic.
Why Vaccination Is No Longer “One-Size-Fits-All”
As a veterinarian, one of the most common questions I get during an annual health check is: “Does my pet really need all of these vaccines every single year?”
The short answer? “No, but they do need some of them”.
The long answer is much more interesting and worth discussing.
In modern veterinary medicine, we have moved away from “blanket” protocols such as “the same annual booster for every pet”. We now use a targeted approach called Individualized Risk Assessment. This ensures your pet is protected against the real threats they face without being over-injected for the ones they don’t.
Core vs. Non-Core: Knowing the Difference
To understand what your pet needs, we first divide vaccines into two categories:
- Core Vaccines: These are the “non-negotiables.” They protect against diseases that are highly contagious, often fatal, or even transmissible to humans (like Rabies in some countries). For dogs, this includes Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis and Parvovirus; for cats, it’s Panleukopenia and Cat Flu (Herpes virus and Calicivirus). The frequency of repetition of these vaccines depends on the precise vaccine used (each is licensed for a different duration of protection e.g. one year, three years, four years, etc) and the expected challenges that may be linked to your pet’s lifestyle (e.g. an indoor only cat vs a pedigree cat that meets other cats every month at cat shows).
- Non-Core (Lifestyle) Vaccines: These are the “maybes.” We only recommend these based on where you live and what your pet actually does.
The Lifestyle “Audit”
When you bring your pet to the clinic, we aren’t just checking their heart and weight; we are performing a lifestyle audit. Here are the types of questions that dictate our medical plan:
- Geography: Do you live near standing water or woods? If so, the Leptospirosis vaccine is probably essential, and this needs to be given annually. Most dogs in Ireland probably fit into this category.
- Social Life: Does your dog go to daycare, the groomer, or the dog park? If they are social butterflies, they need protection against Bordetella (Kennel Cough), which again, is an annual vaccination.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Does your cat ever slip out onto the patio? Even “mostly indoor” cats may need Feline Leukemia (FeLV) protection if they have any potential exposure to neighborhood cats.
- Travel: Are you planning a trip to the UK, Europe or beyond? Different regions carry different risks, and you need your pet to be protected before they cross any borders.
The Bottom Line
Vaccines are one of the greatest triumphs of animal health—they’ve turned once-deadly outbreaks into rare occurrences. However, the “right” vaccine schedule is the one that fits your pet’s specific life.
During your next visit, talk to your veterinarian about your pet’s routine. Whether they are a high-adventure hiking dog or a professional couch-potato cat, they will help you build a protection plan that gives them exactly what they need—and nothing they don’t.
Expert Tip
Keep a digital copy of your pet’s vaccine records on your phone. It’s the easiest way to ensure you’re always ready for a last-minute boarding stay or an emergency vet visit!
Watch this Telegraph video reel to hear Pete talk about this in person
Please note that I am unable to answer veterinary questions in comments. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health it is always better to contact your vet.