RULES FOR VACCINATION AGAINST EQUINE INFLUENZA AND TETANUS

In accordance with Jockey Club or Show Committee Rules, to enable animals to be admitted to show grounds and racecourses etc. for competition purposes, horses, ponies and donkeys should be vaccinated as follows:

1. A Primary Course of two injections not less than 21 days or more than 92 days apart.  Medically we prefer to give the second vaccination 4 - 6 weeks after the first.

2.  A First Booster must be given 5 - 7 months (not less than 150 days and not more than 215 days) after the second injection of the Primary Course.  Thereafter, Annual Boosters are to be given not more than 12 months apart.  Thus a typical vaccination pattern would be:
1st  January      2005    (F&T)
1st  February     2005    (F&T)
1st August         2005    (F)
31st July           2006   (F&T)
30th July          2007   (F)
29th July          2008    (F&T)  etc.
After the initial course, tetanus vaccinations are usually required everytwo years, depending on which type of vaccine has been used previously. The vet will check this when they visit and it is one of the reasons why we ask for the vaccination card to be ready.

If at any time an injection is given later than is required under these rules, the whole sequence must be started from the beginning, including the 5 - 7 month booster. HORSES AND PONIES COMPETING IN FEI COMPETITIONS REQUIRE 6 MONTHLY FLU VACCINATIONS - see below. These rules are meant for competition purposes.  Medically a few days either way is acceptable for horses which are not going to competitions or shows where they may have to show their vaccination records.  1st and 2nd  vaccinations give sufficient cover for shows (cover valid 7 days from 2nd vaccination until 3rd vaccination is due).  Tetanus is not necessary for shows.

Remembering when your horse's vaccination is due is your responsibility !  Historically, we have issued vaccination reminders in the post to jog your memory, and we will continue to provide this service but, with ever increasing problems with the postal service, these reminders should not be relied on 100%.  If your horse's vaccination goes over its due date, the course will have to be started again and you will incur unnecessary costs.  It helps the vet if your horse's passport is available for signature at the time of vaccination.

Animals can be exercised after the F&T vaccinations but should not be sweated up for 2 days.

Foals should have 1st F&T vaccination at 5 months (or from 2-3 months if insufficient colostrum).  Young foals are protected by vaccinating the dam in  the last 6 weeks of pregnancy and ensuring that they receive the first milk (colostrum) in first 8-12 hours after birth to receive antibodies.

Information from the FEI:
 A reminder regarding the most recent Guidelines for Equine Influenza vaccinations on FEI passports taken from the FEI website.

 FEI - Annex VII - Equine Influenza 24.13 Kb 

 The issue of influenza vaccinations continues to create some problems during passport controls at events.  However, once more the bottom line is:

A recorded primary course, at least an annual booster schedule thereafter and the last booster given within a period of 6 months (+ 3 weeks) but not within 7 days prior to event arrival.

As far as the first booster (to be given within 6 months after the second vaccination of the primary course), we advise to check for it, not to sanction if that first booster is not there but to write down that the horse needs an extra vaccination (21-92 days after the next 6 month booster), which will make the next 2 vaccinations effectively a new primary course. The following booster at 6 months will then bring the horse back in line.