IOWA Rabies Waiver Bill HF2124 ACTION ALERT: Iowa Rep. Marti Anderson has filed a rabies medical exemption bill, HF 2124, and it has been assigned to the Agriculture Committee.. Please contact Agriculture Chair, Pat Grassley pat.grassley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221 & Agriculture committee members (below) & ask them to support HF2124. Rabies Challenge Fund letter in support below. Bill Text: http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Legislation/85thGA/Bills/HouseFiles/Introduced/HF2124.html

House Agriculture Committee: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/committee?ga=85&groupID=694

Pat Grassley Chair pat.grassley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Jarad J. Klein Vice Chair jarad.klein@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Helen Miller ( Ranking Member helen.miller@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Dwayne Alons dwayne.alons@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Clel Baudler clel.baudler@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Bruce Bearinger bruce.bearinger@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Peter Cownie peter.cownie@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Dave Deyoe dave.deyoe@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Jack Drake jack.drake@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Nancy Dunkel nancy.dunkel@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Curtis Hanson curt.hanson@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Lee Hein lee.hein@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Bobby Kaufmann bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Jerry A. Kearns jerry.kearns@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Daniel Kelley dan.kelley@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Dave Maxwell dave.maxwell@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Brian Moore brian.moore@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Daniel Muhlbauer dan.muhlbauer@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Steven N. Olson steven.olson@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Scott Ourth scott.ourth@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Todd Prichard todd.prichard@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Patti Ruff patti.ruff@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221
Tom Shaw tom.shaw@legis.iowa.gov (515) 281-3221

January 4, 2014

Representative Marti Anderson

House of Representatives HD36

RE: Rabies Medical Exemption for Iowa

Greetings Representative Anderson:

Iowa Code Title 9, Subtitle 1 Chapter 351 Section 351.33 requiring rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats does not contain a provision to exempt unhealthy animals whose veterinarians have determined their medical conditions should preclude vaccination.

The 18 states of Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin all have medical exemption clauses in their rabies laws, with Pennsylvania?s Governor Corbett having just signed one into law on July 9, 2013.

Labels on rabies vaccines declare that they are for ?the vaccination of healthy cats, [and] dogs,? because vaccinating an unhealthy animal may not produce the desired immunologic response. As Pfizer?s rabies vaccine labels warn: " A protective immune response may not be elicited if animals are incubating an infectious disease are malnourished or parasitized are stressed due to shipment or environmental conditions are otherwise immunocompromised?." Passage of a medical exemption clause would allow Iowa?s veterinarians to write waivers for animals whose lives would be jeopardized by or whose medical conditions would be exacerbated by vaccination, including those with past anaphylactic reactions to the rabies vaccine or those suffering from cancer, kidney/liver failure, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, lymphoma, grand mal seizures, and chronic autoimmune disorders.

The American Animal Hospital Association advises veterinarians "…to avoid administration of any vaccine to patients with a history of systemic disease suspected to be associated with previous vaccination (e.g., immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, immune-mediated thrombocytopenia) or known to be caused by vaccine (vaccination-site cutaneous ischemic vasculitis after administration of rabies vaccine).? (1) They further recommend that ?[d]ogs receiving immunosuppressive chemotherapy should not be vaccinated.? (2)

The State of Maine inserted the following medical exemption into their rabies protocol, Title 7 M.R.S.A., Sec. 3922(3), in April 2005:

?5 A. A letter of exemption from vaccination may be submitted for licensure, if a medical reason exists that precludes the vaccination of the dog. Qualifying letters must be in the form of a written statement, signed by a licensed veterinarian, that includes a description of the dog, and the medical reason that precludes vaccination. If the medical reason is temporary, the letter shall indicate a time of expiration of the exemption.

B. A dog exempted under the provisions of paragraph 5 A, above, shall be considered unvaccinated, for the purposes of 10-144 C.M.R. Ch.251, Section 7(B)(1), (Rules Governing Rabies Management) in the case of said dog's exposure to a confirmed or suspect rabid animal.?

Without a provision for medical waivers in Iowa Code Title 9, Subtitle 1 Chapter 351 Section 351.33, Iowa?s rabies immunization requirement poses an ethical dilemma for veterinarians with seriously ill patients – they must either violate their Veterinarian?s Oath and administer a rabies vaccine conflicting with sound medical practice and contrary to manufacturer?s labeled instructions, or recommend that clients break the law by not immunizing their unhealthy pets. Additionally, veterinarians face potential liability for any adverse reactions suffered after administering a vaccine inconsistent with labeled directions when immunizing sick animals against rabies. Owners may choose not to comply with the law rather than risk their pets? lives and subsequently fail to license them to avoid detection.

On behalf of The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust, veterinarian Franchesca Zenitsky, and other Iowa pet owners who have contacted us for assistance, we urge you to introduce legislation to insert a medical exemption clause into Chapter 351 Section 351.33 of the Iowa Code. Please contact me if you would like any scientific data on the rabies vaccine or have any questions.

Sincerely,

Kris L. Christine

Founder, Co-Trustee

THE RABIES CHALLENGE FUND

(1) American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force. 2011 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, Revised p. 21

(2) American Animal Hospital Association Canine Vaccine Task Force. 2011 Canine Vaccine Guidelines, Recommendations, and Supporting Literature, Revised p. 29

Kris_Christine