Vaccination help please

[katiecuckoo]

Hi, can anyone tell me what horses require to start them on a course of vaccines agains Flu and Tetanus? I know Flu is: Ist jab, then the 2nd a month later and the 3rd six months after that, then to yearly boosters... and I thought Tetanus was 1st jab, 2nd a month later and then to Bi-annual boosters. But my vet is giving a combined Flu and Tet jab every time - which surely have to be more expensive? Is it not possible to simply give Flu on its own for the 3rd jab for example?

 

[Keflavik]

Your timing is correct on your vaccine protocol. It is also correct that a flu vaccine ( without tetanus) may be used for the third vaccine providing the first annual booster is then a flu and tetanus - otherwise the tetanus status will have lapsed by the time the 2nd annual booster comes due (i.e 30 months after the second flu/tetanus vaccine of the primary course)- sorry if this sounds complicated.
This may be the reason why your vet uses combined flu and tetanus for the first 3 vaccines of the course.
As far as cost is concerned, it is surprising that there is very little cost difference between flu vaccine and combined flu and tetanus vaccine.