Question
I live in South Africa where I'm not aware of the necessity or vaccines for pet parrots. Do pet parrots require vaccinations anywhere else in the world?
Answer
The only available avian vaccine is for avian polyomavirus (APV). APV is usually only a problem for hand-fed chicks. If chicks are parent-raised (or if they are shared-socialized, so that the parents and the human caretaker both feed the chicks), APV is rarely a problem, because antibodies are passed from the parents to the chicks during feedings. The vaccine itself can cause problems, and there is not a consensus among veterinarians about the wisdom of vaccinating for APV.
An excellent, up-to-date discussion by Dr. Susan Orosz of APV vaccination can be found at: https://lafeber.com/pet-birds/vaccines-pet-birds/
Answered By - Tom Gaskill