Flu Vaccination extension

[mini-eventer]

Morning,

I have just tried to book my horses yearly flu vaccine.

The vets have told me there is a shortage and the official bodies have extended the time for a booster to 15months?

Can anyone confirm this is correct? Whilst I don't currently compete, I don't want to be turned away in future if it looks like a gap in his records

 

[Fabel]

3 weeks ago the RVC said I was 2 days late with my mare and would have to start again. So according to them. No shortage

 

[Sir barnaby]

I had same problem they’ve delayed injection until December giving me 3 months grace.

 

[WispyBegs]

My vets advised do not allow these yearly jags to lapse unless you are happy to pay for the extra boosters and start again!!

My vets are not currently giving any extensions.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

From BRC:

BHS and BRC Flu Vaccination Shortage Statement – 7.9.2022

The equestrian world is in the midst of an unprecedented equine influenza vaccination shortage which has been caused by supply chain issues with one of the major vaccine manufacturers. There are simply not enough doses available to meet the demand of the equestrian population. Action must be taken now to preserve doses to protect those equines most at risk from influenza, until more doses of the vaccine are produced, and availability once again meets demand.

As such, The British Horse Society (incorporating British Riding Clubs), will be acting on scientific advice from BEVA and the BEF with regard to flu vaccination guidance for horse owners and riding school proprietors. This will also impact the mandatory regulations for BRC members attending qualifiers and/or championships.

From 1 September and for the duration of the shortage, the BHS and BRC will be allowing a 15-month interval instead of the usual 12 months for the annual booster vaccination. This 15-month booster must be followed by another booster, no more than 9 months later. Essentially still ensuring 2 annual boosters are given in a 24-month period.

Vets should stamp the passport of the horse to indicate that the delay in the booster was due to the vaccination shortage. This will act as dispensation for future BHS and BRC competitions and ensure that the vaccination schedule does not need to be re-started.

Further communication will be released as and when the situation changes and an end date will be communicated in good time once it becomes available.

For any BRC queries please email jennie.pallett@bhs.org.uk

For BHS queries please email welfare@bhs.org.uk or call 02476 840517

AND https://www.britishequestrian.org.uk/news/update-equine-influenza-vaccine-shortage

 

[dorsetladette]

Ive missed my colts 6 month jab by 2 days and have had to start again. Really frustrating as in old terms I'm still within the limits (182 days from second jab) but under new guidelines we were out by 48hrs. ?

 

[shortstuff99]

The 15 months only applies to RC and PC. BD, BE etc have gone to 12 months.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

The 15 months only applies to RC and PC. BD, BE etc have gone to 12 months.

Yup, but I bet the likes of the big shows (like RWHS) will still stick to 6 months.

 

[mini-eventer]

So I don't compete BD or BE currently but have aspirations to. If I go 15months then a booster within 9 months as per the above guidence, would it mean 2 year down the line when I go BE, I would have to restart?

 

[Hackback]

So if it's actually safe for a horse to go 15 months between boosters, why do they insist that you have to restart the full course if you miss the booster by 2 days?

 

[Nicnac]

So I don't compete BD or BE currently but have aspirations to. If I go 15months then a booster within 9 months as per the above guidence, would it mean 2 year down the line when I go BE, I would have to restart?

Likely so don't risk it. My horse was done last week after 11 months as vet was out for something else so made sense. I haven't competed affiliated this year due to horse and human injuries but planning to BD next month and didn't want him jabbed too near to the 12 month date.

Not sure I'd trust BRC with the 15 month then 9 month rule. Checks are usually done by fire breathing dragons with a funny circular gizmo with dates on and they'll bung you out if you're 2 minutes late ime.

 

[mini-eventer]

Urgh might have to try another vets, or hope it's a different receptionist when I call back tomorrow

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

If you ever plan on competing do not let it lapse. You WILL have to restart.

 

[SEL]

So if it's actually safe for a horse to go 15 months between boosters, why do they insist that you have to restart the full course if you miss the booster by 2 days?

Ridiculous isn't it? If it's a leap year then there's already an extra day and I doubt the antibodies are that good at keeping an eye on the calendar

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Ridiculous isn't it? If it's a leap year then there's already an extra day and I doubt the antibodies are that good at keeping an eye on the calendar

Leap years count in racing BTW. We had to restart a horse because 3 years before (in a previous yard) it has been vacced on exactly the same date but there had been a leap year so it was 366 days not 365.

 

[racebuddy]

Mine is due his in November my vets have completey ran out so may have to move his until febuary , my other horse is due his 6 month one in December too , xx mine out all the time competing x

 

[SEL]

Leap years count in racing BTW. We had to restart a horse because 3 years before (in a previous yard) it has been vacced on exactly the same date but there had been a leap year so it was 366 days not 365.

My cat has a 3 month grace period and the small animal vet was bemused when I explained horses can't go a day over without restarting the whole process again.

 

[dorsetladette]

https://vaca.horseracing.software/

This is the calculator my vets use. It suggests that if ponies start their jabs after 1st of jan this year they will need 6 monthly boosters after that - is that right?

 

[mini-eventer]

Sadly it looks like I will have to hang on... all our local vets are low stock, and you have to have proof of affiliated competitions, or are saving them for existing clients (quite understandable)

If it causes a problem in the future I guess I will have to restart

 

[Gamebird]

https://vaca.horseracing.software/

This is the calculator my vets use. It suggests that if ponies start their jabs after 1st of jan this year they will need 6 monthly boosters after that - is that right?

It is worth pointing out that the new vaccine intervals on that calculator are for BHA purposes ie. only applicable to racehorses. It used to be the same for normal horses, and is a really useful calculator, but now racehorse vacc intervals have changed it cannot be used for non-racehorses. Your vets may have missed the change if they do not do much racehorse work.

@dorsetladette unless you have a racehorse or intend to compete on licensed racecourse premises the normal 150-215 day interval for 3rd vaccs still applies.

The change in BHA vaccination intervals seems to be causing much confusion - even the Pony Club got confused for a bit, but seem to have retracted their statements. However neither BRC, BD, BE, FEI etc. etc. have changed their primary course intervals. These are still 21-92 days and 150-215 days, for non-racehorses.

With regards to the current vaccine shortage (this is real, and a big issue, but stocks will vary from practice to practice) vets have been advised to risk-assess horses and for low risk horses extend the booster interval to 15 months for this booster, and 9 months for the next booster (so that the horse will still have received 2 boosters in a 24 month period). This does not apply to horses competing with affiliated bodies, which still need to observe the year deadline. However almost all of the affiliated bodies, including the BHA, have temporarily removed the requirement for 6 month vaccination until the current shortage is over.

I hope that clears this up, as there is quite a lot of misinformation on this thread.

Current BEVA recommendations for vets:
UPDATE: Equine Influenza Vaccine Shortage | British Equine Veterinary Association (beva.org.uk)

 

[dorsetladette]

@Gamebird I'm going to call my vets today and see if I can use the '1st' injection of the 'new' course as the '3rd' injection of the original course.

Thank you

 

[humblepie]

Yes as above don't go over the 12 months if you are likely to compete. I think the FEI have also temporarily extended from the 6 months due to the vaccine shortage.

 

[shortstuff99]

It is worth pointing out that the new vaccine intervals on that calculator are for BHA purposes ie. only applicable to racehorses. It used to be the same for normal horses, and is a really useful calculator, but now racehorse vacc intervals have changed it cannot be used for non-racehorses. Your vets may have missed the change if they do not do much racehorse work.

@dorsetladette unless you have a racehorse or intend to compete on licensed racecourse premises the normal 150-215 day interval for 3rd vaccs still applies.

The change in BHA vaccination intervals seems to be causing much confusion - even the Pony Club got confused for a bit, but seem to have retracted their statements. However neither BRC, BD, BE, FEI etc. etc. have changed their primary course intervals. These are still 21-92 days and 150-215 days, for non-racehorses.

With regards to the current vaccine shortage (this is real, and a big issue, but stocks will vary from practice to practice) vets have been advised to risk-assess horses and for low risk horses extend the booster interval to 15 months for this booster, and 9 months for the next booster (so that the horse will still have received 2 boosters in a 24 month period). This does not apply to horses competing with affiliated bodies (which includes the BRC), which still need to observe the year deadline. However almost all of the affiliated bodies, including the BHA, have temporarily removed the requirement for 6 month vaccination until the current shortage is over.

I hope that clears this up, as there is quite a lot of misinformation on this thread.

Current BEVA recommendations for vets:
UPDATE: Equine Influenza Vaccine Shortage | British Equine Veterinary Association (beva.org.uk)

BRC have told us (as Official Stewards and Area Reps) that they are doing the 15 month and then 9 month boosters.

This is from their own page
From 1 September and for the duration of the shortage, the BHS and BRC will be allowing a 15-month interval instead of the usual 12 months for the annual booster vaccination. This 15-month booster must be followed by another booster, no more than 9 months later. Essentially still ensuring 2 annual boosters are given in a 24-month period.

 

[Gamebird]

BRC have told us (as Official Stewards and Area Reps) that they are doing the 15 month and then 9 month boosters.

This is from their own page
From 1 September and for the duration of the shortage, the BHS and BRC will be allowing a 15-month interval instead of the usual 12 months for the annual booster vaccination. This 15-month booster must be followed by another booster, no more than 9 months later. Essentially still ensuring 2 annual boosters are given in a 24-month period.

You're right, thanks. I have taken them out of my list. They started off being adamant that they wouldn't allow it, but have now apparently agreed to it - I missed that bit! However none of the other affiliated bodies will accept it.

 

[CJoe]

is this shortage in different areas of the UK as had no issues getting ours in Berks/Oxon at all?

 

[ycbm]

So we have a vaccine shortage which the affiliated bodies fully intend to make even worse, by requiring people whose vets are out of vaccine and vaccinate a few days or weeks late, to have three times the number of jabs in the following 8 months, rather than allow a 15 month window that the Veterinary profession all agree is perfectly safe?

Well done guys!
.

 

[shortstuff99]

You're right, thanks. I have taken them out of my list. They started off being adamant that they wouldn't allow it, but have now apparently agreed to it - I missed that bit! However none of the other affiliated bodies will accept it.

Thought I was going a bit mad then as I was sure they had said 15 months!

 

[Gamebird]

is this shortage in different areas of the UK as had no issues getting ours in Berks/Oxon at all?

It's more practice to practice, and varies from week to week depending on availability of supplies - you may just have been lucky to have got yours done on the one day that week your vet had some stocks in for example. The shortage is with the Proteq brand, so practices that use this brand were hit first and hit harder. However there is inevitably a knock on effect as now everyone is trying to get hold of the other brand, Prequenza, which is having to be rationed.

 

[dorsetladette]

Just wanted to update.

I've spoken to my vets and asked them to check the dates. They confirmed that they were using the racing calculator i shared in my previous post which now doesn't relate to horses outside of racing. So Reggie is now fully vaccinated rather than just starting a new course.

Thank you @Gamebird I wouldn't of known to query it if you hadn't explained the differences.

 

[mini-eventer]

Further too my post above, I realised I have missed the extension. With Xmas etc, really busy in the run up, and just not used to vaccinating this time of year.

Took my eye off the ball, so having to restart anyway ?

So annoyed since I tried really hard to book it when it was due.