Under Configuration > Medical > Vaccines, you will see three submenus containing information about vaccinations: Quick fill templates, Routes, and Sites.

Quick fill templates

Use templates to quickly fill out vaccine details based on your shelter's standard protocols. Click the "Add template" button to get started.

Template name 

This is what staff will see when they complete/add a vaccine in an animal's record. The name should be descriptive and informative. For example, you may choose to call it "Puppy series", "Puppy DHPP", or "Puppy vaccine (until 18 weeks)". Pick a name that even new staff members will be able to understand and recognize.

Species

Pick the species which may use this template. If choosing felines, be sure to select both "Cat" and "Cat (feral)". This helps prevent staff from entering the wrong type of vaccine and speeds up the data entry process because only applicable vaccine template choices will be available.

Default product, vaccine type, and manufacturer

Pick the product that you want auto-filled for this template. This should be your most commonly ordered vaccine. Staff can edit the product when they fill out each individual animal's vaccine.

This list is based on commercially available vaccine products. The vaccine type (killed, modified live, etc.) and manufacturer are linked to the product and cannot be edited. If you do not see the product that you are using, you can select the generic equivalent. If you think this list is in error or would like to see a vaccine added, please feel free to contact us.

Note: If you commonly use more than one product, we recommend that you create one template for each product so that staff don't need to manually enter the product. For example, you could have two templates called "Puppy Vanguard" and "Puppy Nobivac".

Lot # and product expiration date

Enter this information from the current open box of vaccines you have. It will only need to be updated when you switch to a box with a new lot number and expiration date.

Default route and default site of vaccination

Choose the usual route (way/method) how a vaccine is given and the site (location in the animal) where this vaccine is administered. This will auto-fill based on the product chosen and manufacturer guidelines, but you can overwrite this. Staff can also change the route when they add the vaccine to the animal.

See section about "Routes" and "Site" below for more information.

Vaccinate every (frequency)

Choose how often this template is given. This interval will determine when the next vaccine is scheduled. Think of this as "next due date". Again, this field will auto-fill based on manufacturer guidelines, but you can set a new default for the template or leave it blank. Staff can also change this when they add the vaccine to the animal.

Routes

This is the list of ways a vaccine can be recorded as being given.

• SQ (subcutaneous) = injected under the skin 
• IN (intranasal) = squirted in the nose
• PO (oral) = squirted in the mouth
• IM (intramuscular) = injected into muscle

This list cannot be edited.

Sites

This is the list of where the vaccine was given in the animal. This is important to document in the medical record in order to track adverse events related to vaccines, e.g. sarcomas (tumors). Shelterluv recommends the AAFP guidelines for vaccine placement in cats.

• Interscapular = scruff of neck, between the shoulder blades
• Left front leg = left shoulder or foreleg
• Left hind leg = left rear leg (FeLV)
• Mouth
• Nose
• Right front leg = right shoulder or foreleg (FVRCP)
• Right hind leg = right hind leg (Rabies)

This list cannot be edited.  

Resources

For information on best practices please review the Association of Shelter Vets' Guidelines for Standards of Care (2010), the American Association of Feline Practitioners Feline Vaccination Advisory Report (2013).