Presentation Recap: Current equine vaccine guidelines

At CVC Kansas City yesterday, Dr. Amanda House from the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine offered attendees an overview of the current core vaccination guidelines as recommended by the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

The four core vaccination recommendations for horses include:

1. Tetanus

• Adults: Vaccinate annually.

• Pregnant mares: Boost 4-6 weeks prior to expected delivery. Also administer a booster if the horse is wounded and more than six months has passed since a previous tetanus vaccination.

• Foals of vaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 4-6 months of age.

• Foals of unvaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series with the first dose at 1-4 months of age.

2. Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE and WEE)

• Adults: All adults should be vaccinated annually in the spring. Vaccination is recommended twice a year or more frequently in endemic areas.

• Pregnant broodmares: Vaccinate 4-6 weeks prior to delivery.

• Horses 1-3 years of age: Vaccinate three times a year, especially in endemic areas.

• Foals of vaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 4-6 months of age.

• Foals of unvaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 3 months of age.

3. West Nile Virus

• Adults: Vaccinate annually. Dr. House vaccinates her horses every spring, and she recommends that veterinarians in the Southeast U.S. or other endemic areas consider vaccinating horses two times a year with the inactivated or recombinant vaccine.

• Pregnant broodmares: Boost 4-6 weeks prior to expected delivery using an inactivated (killed) vaccine.

• Foals of vaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 4-6 months of age.

• Foals of unvaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 3 months of age.

4. Rabies

• Adults: Vaccinate annually.

• Pregnant broodmares: Boost prior to breeding or 4-6 weeks before foaling.

• Foals of vaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 6 months or older.

• Foals of unvaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 3 months of age.

In addition, Dr. House recommends the equine herpesvirus vaccination for all broodmares as part of a risk-based vaccination protocol:

• Pregnant adults: Administer at 5, 7, and 9 months gestation.

• Foals of vaccinated mares: Dose with the inactivated or modified live virus with a three-dose series starting at 5-6 months old.

• Foals of unvaccinated mares: Start a three-dose series at 3 months.