Who is going to do the 6 monthly vaccinations then?

[Violet]

It's NOT a 6 monthly vaccination.
It only asks for the vaccination to have been done WITHIN the last 6 months for some competitions.
I.e. if you compete for six months and then have a break for 3 months you can start up your vaccinations a week before your next competition and then compete for another 6 months

 

[Cowpony]

Yep, we compete at least once a month BD, but even if we didn't I'd still have it done. Our yard has regular competitions so there's a risk from horses coming in.

 

[spacefaer]

I'm not going to but I don't compete although I will be out hunting regularly throughout the season. My horse had a 6 monthly vaccination earlier this year when the flu epidemic started therefore he was due another vaccination recently if I was going to keep up the 6 monthly frequency. I spoke to my vet who advised me to stick to annual vaccinations. Obviously if you want to compete and the venues insist you won't have a choice. It might be worth checking with the equestrian centres in your area.

All our local packs are requiring 6 monthly and will be checking.

 

[Sasana Skye]

We compete and go to clinics, not every week or anything but definitely all year round so yes both horses will be staying at 6 month vaccinations until we hear otherwise. We get free call out on zone days for pre-booked appointments and 5% discount for being on the vets special plan so it's £37 per horse.

Only thing that concerns me now is running out of pages in the passport for vaccinations, my 15yo will run out of space in 18 months...anybody else had this problem? Think I will have to put a spare page in somehow.

 

[Tiddlypom]

All our local packs are requiring 6 monthly and will be checking.

Glad to hear that, that is the responsible thing to do.

Mine will be within the 6 months til Jan. I will review then as to when to get the next boosters done. We don’t compete.

 

[rara007]

I restarted mine for a technical error years ago at the start of the year so he’s due about now. Then I’ll do one about 6m time that’ll cover us for the season. I reserve judgement about 2020s Autumn one until closer to the time but if BE don’t change their mind will carry on 6mly.

 

[scats]

Yes, doing them 6 monthly.

 

[Merrymoles]

We are - today! One of the horses is 26 so possibly at higher risk because of his age if he does get it, and they do go out and about, as do other horses on the yard. Not necessarily competing but still meeting other horses.

 

[awelshandawarmblood]

I won't be, don't compete & on a low traffic yard although both mine are done now annually in May so when my youngster is ready to go out, he'll be within the 6 month rule over summer.

 

[Annagain]

I've just had 6 monthly boosters done on M & A. Apart from anything, as M is one of the few on my yard to go out and about I want to be whiter than white so fellow liveries can't complain if their horses get it. A doesn't really leave the field now but I'd rather he had them. He and M are joined at the hip so if M managed to pick up the virus but not be affected by it, knowing my luck, A would pick it up from him (vaccination reduces virus shed but doesn't eliminate it). It might be overkill but I'm far happier knowing I've done all I can rather than thinking "if only". They're both 23 and although they're healthy with no underlying conditions, the risk of complications at that age is just too great.

 

[Sags_Deer]

It's NOT a 6 monthly vaccination.
It only asks for the vaccination to have been done WITHIN the last 6 months for some competitions.
I.e. if you compete for six months and then have a break for 3 months you can start up your vaccinations a week before your next competition and then compete for another 6 months

Ah thank you, that clarifys it for me then, I will hold off getting my boy injected until I go back out competing then.

 

[Annagain]

Ah thank you, that clarifys it for me then, I will hold off getting my boy injected until I go back out competing then.

It probably goes without saying but just in case - they still need them annually just that if you have them done every March, you'd be ok to compete until September and won't need to do them again until the following March if you weren't competing over the winter.

 

[Sags_Deer]

It probably goes without saying but just in case - they still need them annually just that if you have them done every March, you'd be ok to compete until September and won't need to do them again until the following March if you weren't competing over the winter.

Yes that’s me he is due next week at 6 months but if I don’t compete until January then I can leave it until then

 

[Hack4fun]

For me, it’s not about what venues are specifying. (I don’t compete and have horses at home). It’s about protecting my horses (and, by extension, the horse population at large through herd immunity - although, with the low vaccination rate in the U.K., this does seem like a pipe dream).

Flu is airborne and can travel quite considerable distances in the right circumstances so, to some extent, whether or not it’s competition season is irrelevant in risk status.

I don’t need a competition venue to tell me to vaccinate my horses: I’m following vet advice and vaccinating at six monthly intervals until the situation changes.

Very well said. Totally agree with this and I am surprised how little this has featured in the conversation so far. Vaccination is not about eligibility to compete at shows, but keeping my horses healthy.

 

[rowan666]

Our vets - equine specialists - are not recommending 6 monthly as a blanket measure. The outbreaks this year are all the same strain which is now covered by current vaccines. The inference that only people who vaccinate every 6 months are responsible owners is frankly a bit silly.

I agree, our vet also thinks annual is sufficient so we will continue with that, if our local venue changes to within the 6 month mark then two of mine will only have the next couple of months to compete, the other will be covered as just been done and will be done when the other two are ready for their annual but only to bring him in line with the others. Our little welshie gets quite sick with it so will absolutely not consider 6 monthly for her

 

[Fruitcake]

Our vets - equine specialists - are not recommending 6 monthly as a blanket measure. The outbreaks this year are all the same strain which is now covered by current vaccines. The inference that only people who vaccinate every 6 months are responsible owners is frankly a bit silly.

The AHT are still recommending six monthly vaccines in their statement from the beginning of this month so I’m a bit surprised that any vet isn’t adhering to and promoting these guidelines.

The fact that the outbreaks are the same strain isn’t the issue. Evidence shows that antibodies wane after 8 months so need “topping up” before the twelve month marker.

I actually do think that, wherever possible and where other health issues permit, vaccination is a part of responsible horse ownership, both for one’s own horses and the horse population at large.

 

[tankgirl1]

Mine don't go anywhere so will just do 12 months. My mares vaccs had lapsed and the shettie had never been done so have got them both back up to date over the summer

 

[Hack4fun]

If you have the time please watch this fascinating video on the influenza vaccination.

 

[spotty_pony]

I’m sticking with yearly. My oldie is only vaccinated for tetanus anyway as my vet says she is most probably immune to most strains of flu at her age by now anyway. She never leaves the yard. I’ll probably get shot down for admitting that but before this big flu panic nobody would have thought about it twice.

 

[WelshD]

My ponies have to be done every six months for pony club anyway so at least when we go showing i know we won't get caught out by the odd venue.

What does cheese me off is that vets have been taking my money for yearly boosters for years but all of a sudden that doesn't provide enough protection