In some European countries an intranasal modified live vaccine against Bb is available. Modified live (ML) Bb vaccines should never be administered to kittens under 4 weeks of age. In addition, they are unlikely to be efficacious in cats on, or due to receive, antibiotics. Cats receiving a live vaccine will shed post-vaccination. They are perhaps best avoided where an owner is known or suspected to be immunocompromised. As with Bb vaccination in dogs, ML vaccines may induce mild clinical signs in occasional vaccinated animals.
Since Bb is generally a mild disease of low prevalence in the small populations that pet cats typically live in, ABCD recommends that cats are not routinely vaccinated against Bb (non-core). Rather vaccine should be limited to those cats living in or moving into high density populations of cats with a history of Bb disease.
Where vaccine is deemed appropriate, cats should be vaccinated according to manufacturer's recommendations.
The live vaccine is licensed for use as a single vaccination with annual boosters. A duration of immunity of at least a year has been demonstrated [Williams et al. 2002] Boosters should only be performed as long as the cat remains exposed to high risk situations.