Equine Influenza vaccination protocol

France Galop, the IHRB and the BHA have all introduced changes to the vaccination protocol for Equine Influenza in response to best scientific advice. Currently there are some slight differences which we would like to make trainers, breeders and owners aware of.

France Galop
On 5 May 2021, France Galop updated their Rules as follows –

 

• Horses that have a compliant primary course and compliant subsequent boosters up to and including 5 May 2021 do not have to re-start the vaccination process.
• Any horse which started a new primary course up to and including 4 May 2021 should continue with the Old Intervals.
• Any horse starting a primary course from 5 May 2021 must comply with the New Intervals.
• The requirement for six-monthly boosters became effective immediately on 5 May 2021.
• Trainers wishing to check dates can use their own login to the France Galop database and access the Vaccination App https://pro.france-galop.com/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=/ or contact either [email protected] or [email protected]

IHRB
From 01 January 2022, the following changes came into effect:

 

• Horses that have a compliant primary course and compliant subsequent boosters up to and including 31 December 2021 do not have to re-start the vaccination process.
• Any horse which started a new primary course up to and including 31 December 2021 should continue with the Old Intervals, even if V2 and V3 are administered in 2022.
• Any horse starting a primary course from 01 January 2022 must comply with the New Intervals.
• Further information may be found at https://ihrb.ie/equine-influenza, or contact [email protected].

 

BHA
From 01 January 2022, the following changes came into effect:

• Horses that have a compliant primary course and compliant subsequent boosters up to and including 31 December 2021 do not have to re-start the vaccination process.
• Any horse which started a new primary course up to and including 31 December 2021 should continue with the Old Intervals, even if V2 and V3 are administered in 2022.
• Any horse starting a primary course from 01 January 2022 must comply with the New Intervals.
• Trainers wishing to check dates can use https://vaca.horseracing.software/ or contact [email protected]

“Early V3s”

• • It should be noted that some trainers and breeders have recorded the following vaccination error, for horses-in-training, and yearlings:
  • For a primary course which started in 2021, V3 should have been administered in line with the old intervals (150-215 days after V2)
  • Some horses have been administered V3 in line with the new intervals (120-180 days after V2). A V3 administered between 120-149 days is therefore an “early V3”.
  • The BHA have made an exemption for ”early V3s” (i.e. they have been approved)
  • The IHRB have not made such exemption for “early V3s”. Any horse with an “early V3” would not be permitted to race in Ireland
    • If the dates permit such horses may be administered an additional vaccination in order to have their vaccination record approved by the IHRB
    • However, if V2 was administered over 215 days previously, the horse would be required to re-start a primary course in order to be permitted to race in Ireland.
• This error only applies for horses which started a primary course in 2021

IHRB and BHA – six-monthly boosters

• Boosters should be administered no more than six calendar months apart.
• Whilst the Rules changed on 01 January 2022, horses must be fully compliant with the new requirements by 01 January 2023.
• This means that before 01 January 2023, race entry will not be refused on the ground of having not yet commenced six-monthly boosters.
• As of 01 January 2023, an Entry for a Race, or a Confirmation of Entry in respect of Early Closers, will not be accepted for any horse unless it has a correct vaccination record.
  • Horses which are due an annual booster between 01 January 2022 – 30 June 2022 will require a booster vaccination between 01 July 2022 – 31 December 2022 in order to be compliant by 01 January 2023.
  • Horses which are due an annual booster between 01 July 2022 – 31 December 2022 will be compliant by 01 January 2023.
• As under the existing Rules, there is no minimum interval for boosters.