EI vaccine milestones: NSW reaches 100,000 doses as racing returns to Royal Randwick

Two major milestones have been reached in the battle against Equine Influenza (EI) with racing returning to Royal Randwick for the first time since the outbreak began and the number of vaccination doses dispatched passing the 100,000 mark, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald announced today.
Minister Macdonald said the majority of vials have been allocated to the buffer containment strategy and purple zone vaccination areas, with the remainder being divided amongst horse industry sectors.
“Today marks two major milestones in the Iemma Government’s fight against Equine Influenza with horse racing returning safely to Royal Randwick for the first time in three months and the number of vaccination doses dispatched passing the 100,000 mark,” he said.
“It is due to the success of the Government’s containment strategy – including the vaccinations – that we are able to safely welcome racing back to Randwick today.
“To date, 55,830 doses have been delivered to local vaccination centres for use in buffers and 17,000 for uninfected horses in the purple zone,” he said.
“Horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and other equine animals including zebras and Przewalski horses at Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo are being strategically vaccinated in buffers at locations where they can help stop horse flu spreading.
“So far more than 27,000 first round buffer shots had been completed, with another 2,000 targeted. More than 7,000 horses have already received their second shot.
“Progress has slowed down over the past week due to the rain, but when in full swing in good weather we have close to 50 teams working throughout the buffers.”
Mr Macdonald said the goal of purple zone vaccination was to help animals that had not contracted EI build up their immunity to speed up the burning out of the EI virus should those horses later become infected.
“We have up to 40 teams targeting isolated pockets with a combination of high horse densities and low infection rates, down to within one kilometre of an infected property if the infection is not active,” he said.
“About 7,500 horses in the purple zone have so far received their first shot. Again, rain has affected progress over the last week.
“Owners of uninfected horses in the purple zone should contact their own vet to apply for vaccination.”
For the latest information on zones and biosecurity advice see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza or call the EI hotline on 1800 675 888.