College Epidemiology


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College Epidemiology

College Epidemiology

A cat owner’s primary objective is keeping his pet healthy. Good food, fresh water, exercise and generous helpings of love can all promote feline well being. But they probably aren’t enough. A conscientious owner also keeps up with his feline’s yearly checkups and vaccination schedule. But with vaccine associated feline sarcomas on the rise, the owner may be confused. Is he putting his treasured pet in danger with yearly vaccination?

What is Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma?

Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma is a tumor that forms at the injection site. This type of tumor begins as a small swelling or lump. This lump will not go away after a few weeks but instead it will grow. This type of tumor is known as a vaccine-related sarcoma and is a tumor of connective tissue. It is a form of cancer.

When these types of cancers became more prevalent, The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force was formed in November 1996 in response to the increased incidence of soft tissue sarcomas occurring at vaccination sites. "The goals of the VAFSTF are to facilitate investigation of the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, treatment, and prevention of these malignancies, as well as to disseminate information to veterinarians and the cat-owning public.”