The Vaccine Associated Feline
Sarcoma Task Force:
Start to Premature Finish
Diplomate ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Professor of Small Animal Medicine
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
From Veterinary Cancer Society Newsletter, Spring 2003
The Vaccine Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force
(VAFSTF) was farmed in 1996 by the American Animal Hospital
Association (AAHA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA),
American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), and the
Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS) as a joint response to what had
clearly become the most important feline health issue since the
recognition of FIV; induction of sarcomas following routine vaccination of
cats. VCS members that serve on the VAFSTF are Barbara Kitchell, Dennis
Maey and myself. The Task Force had many early successes and focused much
needed attention on this problem. Among other things, VAFSTF developed
information brochures for cat owners (Vaccines and Sarcomas: A Concern
for Cat Owners) and the profession (Guidelines for the Diagnosis
and Management of' Suspected Sarcomas and Vaccine Site
Recommendations) and created website information at: http://www.avma.org/vafstf/default.asp
More importantly, VAFSTF organized a research response that collected over
$823,000 to be used for investigations relating to vaccine sarcomas.
Several VCS members graciously assisted the Task Force in evaluating
research proposals. Publications and position statements from VAFSTF, the
AAFP, and the Academy of Feline Medicine (AFM) have collectively changed
the standards of practice in North America relative to vaccinating cats.
The website lists 82 publications relating to vaccine caused sarcomas.
Many of the studies cited at the website were supported by VAFSTF research
funds and others were inspired by information generated by VAFSTF
supported studies.
Much of the initial and ongoing funding for VAFSTF came from the founding organizations themselves as an unequivocal statement that recognized the importance of this problem. In addition, the Corneal Feline Health Center contributed both hard funds and personnel support to VAFSTF. There has been a real and measurable return on everyone's investment. We know a great deal more about the biology of these tumors now than would have been possible without this historic alliance of professional veterinary organizations. However, the road to the successes of the Task Force has not been without difficulty. As you know, this is a politically charged issue. Although some vaccine companies have been generous with their financial support, others have not. Compromise wording that shielded the vaccine industry from direct responsibility for creating this problem was required on most VAFSTF publications in order to keep the organization and funding intact. The response to the sarcoma problem by vaccine companies has been passive and most seemingly took the position that their vaccines are safe or at least safe enough for most cats. Development of non-sarcoma causing vaccines was never a stated goal of any company except Merial and no change in vaccine formulation or label recommendations was every announced to VAFSTF in response to this problem. There was even a request to rename VAFSTF, the Injection Site Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force, apparently to deflect attention away from the vaccine products that cause the overwhelming majority of disease (my personal preference for a new name was the Vaccine CAUSED Feline Sarcoma Task Force). Nevertheless, it is very important to acknowledge that much of the research on this problem would not have happened without industry funding. Sadly, a few in our own profession still have doubts about the whole issue and resent and resist any move to modernize vaccine recommendations according to VAFSTF, AAFP and AFM guidelines. Denial and inertia can be powerful enemies of progress.
The original intent of VAFSTF was to prime the research pump and then to sunset after three years. VAFSTF intentionally did not sunset after three years because of the recognized need to continue to monitor the results of funded but incomplete studies, to disperse funds collected but not yet awarded, and to continue to represent the profession on this issue. In early 2002 the Task Force recognized that funding was becoming harder to secure. For whatever reason (bad economy, donor fatigue, lack of real consequences for producing vaccines with catastrophic consequences for some cats, etc.), industry contributions to support research almost dried up. Absent significant industry sup-port and yet an ongoing health issue for cats, VAFSTF again turned to the founding member organizations to continue to fund at least a few research projects each year. The AAHA was first to pledge additional funds and VCS quickly followed. Unfortunately, in late 2002, the AVMA declined to provide any additional funding for VAFSTF (although they allow the use of their headquarters for meetings, maintain the website, and provide for the continued involvement of their representative). It is hard to imagine how the AVMA could see it in the interests of our profession or in the interests of cats and their owners to walk away from this problem after having contributed substantially to the initial success of VAFSTF.
In April 2003, the Task Force will disperse unallocated research funds and discuss a future that could include a sunset procedure. Meanwhile cats keep getting sarcomas after routine vaccination.
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