Vaccination Uncertainty

Most of us have heard that Thoroughbreds in NSW were being vaccinated with the vaccine Proteq Flu two weeks apart. Earlier this week we learnt that Thoroughbreds in Queensland are being vaccinated twice, 28 days apart. This has come about by Queensland Vets noticing that on the bottles of the vaccine it states, “the second booster shot should be given 28 to 48 days apart, with a follow up shot in six months”. The Queensland Racing Board approached the vaccine manufactures, Merial and asked should they give the second shot two weeks after the first, or as the bottle states, after 28 days? Merial came back to the Racing Board after some investigating, and stated that they stand by the recommendations on the product.

Horse Deals contacted Merial and asked why the horses in Sydney were being given two shots two weeks apart? They explained the decision to do this was not done in consultation with them and it is not scientifically proven that giving the two shots two weeks apart would give horses in immediate danger of being infected greater immunity, as believed by NSW Racing. Merial said this may be the case but we will not know until a later date when testing can be done. It may prove that horses given the vaccine two weeks apart will need a third booster in three months rather than the recommended six months.

We then contacted Paul Dunstan, a country trainer in Victoria, who we knew had had his Thoroughbreds vaccinated and was waiting for them to have their second shot two weeks later. Paul said he had contacted his vet to ask when he was coming to give his horses their second vaccination. The vet told him that the second vaccine was now being administered six to eight weeks later due to a number of horses having an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Paul also explained to us that now he has vaccinated Thoroughbreds on his property, he is no longer allowed to take in “non-Thoroughbred” breakers, which are a big part of his business. If he wishes to take in new Thoroughbreds it must be done with VRC approval.

This morning Horse Deals received the following entry to the blog;
I was very happy (no actually I was beside myself) to have my horse (in a purple zone) receive his 1st vaccination today. When I enquired about the 2 week booster shot I was told, by the vet, that they (I assume the DPI) have now learned that a horse has more immunity if the booster is given 1 month after the 1st injection and then they don't require the 6 month injection. Does anyone else smell a rat?. Judy

So it looks like the EI circus continues to roll along, with as much uncertainty as the day it started over two months ago.