6 month vaccines

[racebuddy]

Evening all my horse is due his 6 month vaccine , whats everyone else doing since we have no were to go : health reasons why we would keep up to date with 6 month vaccines due to ie flu problems we had

i am happy to have 6 months as he has to have three month checks for his melamoma/ teeth anyway just dodnt want to compromise him of stopped the 6 month vaccone

whata everyone else doing? Xx

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I didnt bother last year as not required for what I did as lots cancelled, also had enough notice that camp was cancelled.
B had her annual last month, 'if' we need a 6 month one (by that I mean a booster within the previous 6 months of the date of event to facilitate us going) then I'll get one done but otherwise I wont.

 

[doodle]

I wouldn’t bother. For competing it is they have to vaccinated within 6 months of the competition. It’s not they have to be vaccinated every 6 months. So you will have plenty of time to arrange as and when competing starts again.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I won’t do any competition that requires my horse to have unnecessary six month vaccines. Not like anything is going ahead just now anyway. Personally I’ve written off this year as well.

 

[racebuddy]

From last time they were saying the immunity was falling at 6 months so adv to do 6 months vaccines , hes had 6 month vaccines amd been fine and had no reactiona xxx but i agree no season this year ethier xx

 

[PeterNatt]

I will continue to have regular 6 months vaccines even though my horses only hack. The reason being that it has been demonstrated that after six month the vaccines effect rapidly deteriorates in horses and it is just not worth the risk.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Will equine vets offer 6 month boosters during lockdown #3?

 

[Circe2]

I will continue to have regular 6 months vaccines even though my horses only hack. The reason being that it has been demonstrated that after six month the vaccines effect rapidly deteriorates in horses and it is just not worth the risk.

I’ll be getting mine done as well - mainly because you’ll have to start from scratch if you miss it, ie pay all over for the two full courses + vet call out x 2, back to back by a month (and then start boosters 6 months later).

Not sure if vets are being called out for boosters, but if you/fellow liveries are calling out for anything else, I’d definitely advise getting the booster done then and there. Especially as we can expect lockdown rules to get even stricter, before they start easing them.

 

[Winters100]

Mine are always done every 6 months whatever we are doing. That having been said I am generally quite pro-vaccine, probably comes by having been raised by a Mother who was disabled due to effects of polio, which of course we are so lucky to have a vaccine for now.

 

[nikicb]

I’ll be getting mine done as well - mainly because you’ll have to start from scratch if you miss it, ie pay all over for the two full courses + vet call out x 2, back to back by a month (and then start boosters 6 months later).

Not sure if vets are being called out for boosters, but if you/fellow liveries are calling out for anything else, I’d definitely advise getting the booster done then and there. Especially as we can expect lockdown rules to get even stricter, before they start easing them.

This is incorrect. You only have to restart if your vaccines go over one year. If you are competing your vaccines have to be done within 6 months (plus some days depending on affiliated organisaion), and not within one week.

ETA BD rules.....

Equine Influenza vaccination • An initial course of two injections for primary vaccination, not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, are required before being eligible to compete. • A first booster injection must be given between 150 and 215 days after the second injection of primary vaccination. • Subsequent booster injections must be given at regular intervals of not more than 12 months, commencing after the first booster injection. • The most recent booster injection must have been given within six calendar months +21 days prior to the horse competing. • The full course or booster must have been administered at least seven days before arriving at the competition.

 

[Circe2]

This is incorrect. You only have to restart if your vaccines go over one year. If you are competing your vaccines have to be done within 6 months (plus some days depending on affiliated organisaion), and not within one week.

ETA BD rules.....

Equine Influenza vaccination • An initial course of two injections for primary vaccination, not less than 21 days and not more than 92 days apart, are required before being eligible to compete. • A first booster injection must be given between 150 and 215 days after the second injection of primary vaccination. • Subsequent booster injections must be given at regular intervals of not more than 12 months, commencing after the first booster injection. • The most recent booster injection must have been given within six calendar months +21 days prior to the horse competing. • The full course or booster must have been administered at least seven days before arriving at the competition.

Oh I see - you’re completely right! I always assumed that if you missed the booster, you’re done for - probably because the boy’s been going to shows. That’s actually a relief to hear, that I can let it lapse for just a bit longer! ?

 

[nikicb]

Oh I see - you’re completely right! I always assumed that if you missed the booster, you’re done for - probably because the boy’s been going to shows. That’s actually a relief to hear, that I can let it lapse for just a bit longer! ?

Yes, I am in a bit of a dilemma with my new girl. For 6 months she is due at the end of January. Normally I would have just gone ahead and done her so we can compete. But we can't compete at the moment, so I could leave it. On the flip side I know from her previous owner that she reacts so needs a week off along with bute, so now wondering whether to go ahead anyway so she is done before things open up again. My other two who don't compete are due their annuals in March, so I think I may aim for mid Feb for all three to get Maddie ready for competing and the others a little early so they are on the same schedule.

 

[vmac66]

I missed the 6 monthly vaccine this year. Vet is coming out to do yearly booster next month.
Local riding club changed venue for their Christmas dressage as not enough people had done the 6 monthly one.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Racing has returned to 12 months so I caan see most other associations following suit again soon.

 

[lannerch]

While horses are not out competing and moving out of the yard , horse influenza is a lot less likely to be spread , so currently it is low risk , would always keep up annual but until competitions are opened up again I wouldn’t rush to have the 6month done.

 

[pansymouse]

I asked my vet and he said it wasn't necessary for my mare - she is old but in good health, we don't compete and we're at a small yard with a very stable established herd.

 

[MissTyc]

I didn't do the 6-monthly last year bc of all the lockdowns. I can cope with a few years of only paying once a year again!

 

[HashRouge]

I will continue to have regular 6 months vaccines even though my horses only hack. The reason being that it has been demonstrated that after six month the vaccines effect rapidly deteriorates in horses and it is just not worth the risk.

Do you have a link to any studies?

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Mine had their annual boosters yesterday. Most organisations seem to have dropped the 6 month requiremenbt. We have competed Dolly after the 6 months in both BE and BS events and the local venues like Somerford and Eland have gone back to 12 months too. I'd also like to see research as my vet felt 12 months was fine even for mine who are out and about all the time. But they always go places with other vaccinated horses so I feel they are safer than if they did stuff like hunted or hacked with groups of people who may not vaccinate.

 

[Annagain]

The rule isn't every six months it's at least annually and within 6 months of the competition so if you vaccinate annually in March you can compete all summer, leave it for the winter and then compete again the following summer. Charlie's due his 3rd of the initial course in Feb and unless we're competing next Autumn, I won't be doing him again until the following Feb. Archie will only ever be done annually now he's retired and doesn't leave the yard.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Dolly competed with vaccinations not having been done for over 6 months. She was last done in Feb 2020. And she was out at BE, NSEA & BS events in Autumn.

 

[Annagain]

Dolly competed with vaccinations not having been done for over 6 months. She was last done in Feb 2020. And she was out at BE, NSEA & BS events in Autumn.

I suppose it's a judgement call based on how likely the venue / organiser is to check and how much of a risk (both rules-wise and illness-wise) you're prepared to take. If I do anything 'affiliated' it will be BRC and they ALWAYS check. BE always had a vaccination requirement but they were never checked from my pre-outbreak experience (I've not done BE since 2016), likewise BS according to friends who do BS comps. From what you say, it seems now the focus has gone off equine flu and on to COVID they've slipped back to old ways. I'm not saying that's a good or bad thing, by the way, just that it's happened. You can't blame them really - having a queue for passport checking and needing a gang of extra volunteers to do it is not ideal in the current situation.

If it's just local stuff, both the rules and the checking is very hit and miss so it would be possible to pick the venues that don't have a 6 month policy or don't really check if you didn't want to vaccinate 6 monthly.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I checked before we competed as I would never risk being turned away and they were allowing a longer gap. But I have just checked the rules again and this was because they announced an amnesty on the 6 month rule which has now ended! So actually we need to wait and see if they stick with 6 now or go back to 12. I'm glad this thread popped up as I assumed 12 months was fine but it may not be! So thanks Annagain

 

[sherry90]

A lot of places relaxed the rules last year between lockdowns over summer. Somerford did, I was due 6 months just before I went to camp but they relaxed and 12 months was accepted. I suspect it might go back to 12 months again this year and as my horse has just had his 12 month booster recently, I’ll hold out and see how this year plays out before giving him the 6 months one, if needed. He’s laminitic so I’m always cautious to vaccinate, especially over summer, so if I can avoid it I will. Not due to cost either, but for welfare and I don’t want to over vaccinate/ pump him with chemicals if I don’t have to!

 

[racebuddy]

Dolly competed with vaccinations not having been done for over 6 months. She was last done in Feb 2020. And she was out at BE, NSEA & BS events in Autumn.

I think i am just going to keep on with 6 months xxx

 

[The Xmas Furry]

A lot of places relaxed the rules last year between lockdowns over summer. Somerford did, I was due 6 months just before I went to camp but they relaxed and 12 months was accepted. I suspect it might go back to 12 months again this year and as my horse has just had his 12 month booster recently, I’ll hold out and see how this year plays out before giving him the 6 months one, if needed. He’s laminitic so I’m always cautious to vaccinate, especially over summer, so if I can avoid it I will. Not due to cost either, but for welfare and I don’t want to over vaccinate/ pump him with chemicals if I don’t have to!

Yes, a lot round here did too, Merrist, Parwood etc. RC changed it back to 12 months with the exception for competition at Area level.
Became confusing for some, that they could compete BS at say Parwood or Sands Farm on a annual jab in Aug, or have an RC training session there, but if there had been an Area SJ or Dr for RC, then you'd have needed a vacc within last 6 months. Mockery really! But I think when its RC that they make their rules annually and wont change during that year, whereas other body's are more flexible in regs if it's to benefit the horses.

So far, all our comp centres are back to 12 months, but with the caveat that if an affiliated event takes place, it's under the organising body regs for vaccination.

 

[Hallo2012]

i will keep up with 6 monthly as the semen collection centre insists on it, so easier just to keep up tp date than try to guess when it may first be needed in april or may!

 

[PeterNatt]

Hash Rouge asked me Do you have a link to any studies?

I am afraid I do not have any links to the studies but when this all started I contacted one of the senior partners of a highly regarded Newmarket Vets Practice for advice and he was the one that advised me that the vaccines effect diminishes after 6 months. Please also bear in mind that one of my horses suffered from a viral infection and I do wish to avoid that again if possible so for the sake of a jab every 6 month and a bit of peace of mind I decided to continue with that regime of 6 monthly vaccinations. My horses are kept at home and have very little contact with other horses but as we all know some viruses are air-bourn or spread by other animals.