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The Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force (VAFSTF) 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. The VAFSTF is a joint effort of the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP), American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and Veterinary Cancer Society (VCS), and includes representatives from each of the groups, plus veterinary researchers and clinicians, and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS), and the Animal Health Institute (AHI).
Task Force Information
Task Force Resources
Task Force Activities
- Funding totaling $828,244 for twenty-three research studies.
- Collection of contributions totaling over $903,478.
- Publication of initial vaccination guidelines.
- Publication and updating of a client information brochure Vaccines and Sarcomas: A Concern for Cat Owners.
- Development and updating of Selected Bibliographic References on vaccine-associated feline sarcomas.
- Presentation of sessions regarding vaccine-associated feline sarcomas at two AVMA Conventions.
- Participation in the Veterinary Cancer Society's first mini-conference on Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcomas.
- Publication of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Suspected Sarcomas. Merial and Schering-Plough Animal Health supported the printing and distribution of 40,000 copies.
- Responses to numerous inquiries from cat owners and to media contacts.
- Maintenance of an informative Web site.
- Publication of two reports
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