Sweet itch vaccination. Does it work??

[Chuckieee]

I’ve stared to see local vets advertising the sweet itch vaccination. From what I can tell, there was field testing a few years back and it now seems that the vaccination has been approved for general market use.

So fellow people, does it work, have you seen side effects and is it costly?

 

[Wheels]

Don't know but would love to hear responses as I have 2 with this horrible affliction

 

[Chuckieee]

From Facebook a local vet is saying that whilst there are side effects, they are rare and it is generally quite successful. Not completely irradiating the symptoms but alleviating them very effectively. I’m really keen to find out more.

 

[Chuckieee]

My own vet has returned to me to say that it’s reliability is still very much in issue and some side effects are rather nasty. Each vaccine costs over £100 and it must be started before symptoms present. I remain unconvinced at the moment but will listen to any feedback.

 

[_HP_]

Do you mean Insol...the ringworm vaccine? There do seem to be alot of people trying it ATM. I'll be watching and waiting although sweet Itch is so variable that I'll not be convinced until there is a complete cure (not gonna happen)

 

[ElleSkywalker]

What are the side effects does anyone know?

 

[oldjumper]

One of our horses took part in the original trials and we continued injections and then tablets for a few years. It was expensive at time £250 pa and made absolutely no difference to his SI. However a friend did the same with her pony and it produced a miraculous improvement. I came to the conclusion that, like all things with SI, there is no one-size-fits-all and the only way to know for sure is to try it. I hope it works for you.

 

[DD]

we tried the Insol vac for mine. it didn't have any effect but a friends horse showed improvement.

 

[JillA]

Mine had immunology injections (every 30 days, subcutaneous, easy enough to do without paying a vet to visit)) formulated from the allergens revealed in a blood test. Weren't a total cure but they did seem to minimise the itching. Company stopped doing them though and my vet hasn't been able to find a replacement (I would be grateful if anyone knows any??). Probably late for any horses allergic to the culicoides midge saliva this year, but mine doesn't start itching until June and turns out to be an allergy to black fly

 

[Britestar]

We had allergy testing done on one of ours, and then a vaccine created specifically for him.

He had a course of injections to start, then reduced to one every 2 weeks in the summer, dropping to once a month in winter. Now increasing again to fortnightly and defo was better last year.

 

[Britestar]

Mine had immunology injections (every 30 days, subcutaneous, easy enough to do without paying a vet to visit)) formulated from the allergens revealed in a blood test. Weren't a total cure but they did seem to minimise the itching. Company stopped doing them though and my vet hasn't been able to find a replacement (I would be grateful if anyone knows any??). Probably late for any horses allergic to the culicoides midge saliva this year, but mine doesn't start itching until June and turns out to be an allergy to black fly

I'll check where ours comes from. I know its imported.

 

[JillA]

We had allergy testing done on one of ours, and then a vaccine created specifically for him.

He had a course of injections to start, then reduced to one every 2 weeks in the summer, dropping to once a month in winter. Now increasing again to fortnightly and defo was better last year.

Which company please?