Vaccines

AAEP Guidelines for Vaccination of Horses The schedule below is a suggested vaccination schedule provided by the American Association of Equine Practitioners, and is based on generally accepted veterinary practices. Infectious disease control programs in conjunction with vaccination are important in maximizing the health, productivity and performance of your horse. Your veterinarian can help design a health management program to reduce exposure to infectious disease agents in your horseÌs environment and lessen the incidence of illness. Disease control programs should be tailored to your individual needs with consideration given to ages, types, activities and number of horses in your program. You should consult with your veterinarian regarding the specific needs of your horse.
Disease/vaccine	Foals/weanlings	Yearlings	Performance Horses	Pleasure Horses	Broodmares	Comments
West Nile Virus	First dose: 3 to 4 months. Second dose: 1 month later (plus 3^rd dose at 6 months in endemic areas).	Annual booster, prior to expected risk. Vaccinate semi-annually or more frequently (every 4 months), depending on risk.	Annual booster, prior to expected risk. Vaccinate semi-annually or more frequently (every 4 months), depending on risk.	Annual booster, prior to expected risk. Vaccinate semi-annually or more frequently (every 4 months), depending on risk.	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum (see full text in guidelines).	Annual booster is after primary series. In endemic areas, booster as required or warranted due to local conditions conducive to disease risk. Vaccinate semi-annually or more frequently (every 4 months), depending on risk.
Tetanus toxoid	From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months From vaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 to 9 months	Annual	Annual	Annual	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Booster at time of penetrating injury or surgery if last dose not administered within 6 months
Encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE, VEE)	EEE: (in high-risk areas) First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months WEE, EEE (in low-risk areas) and VEE: From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 4 to 5 months Third dose: 5 to 6 months From vaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 months	Annual, spring Annual, spring	Annual, spring Annual, spring	Annual, spring Annual, spring	Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum Annual, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	In endemic areas booster EEE and WEE every 6 months; VEE only needed when threat of exposure; VEE may only be available as a combination vaccine with EEE and WEE.
Influenza	Inactivated injectable: From nonvaccinated mare: First dose: 6 months Second dose: 7 months Third dose: 8 months Then at 3-month intervals From vaccinated mare: First dose: 9 months Second dose: 10 months Third dose: 11 to 12 months Then at 3-month intervals Intranasal modified live virus: First dose: 11 months; has been safelyadministered to foals less than 11 months – seecomments	Every 3 to 4 months Every 6 months	Every 3 to 4 months Every 6 months	Annual with added boosters prior to likely exposure, Every 6 months	At least semiannual, with 1 booster 4 to 6 weeks prepartum, Annual before breeding (see comments)	A series of at least 3 doses is recommended for primary immunization of foals. Notrecommended for pregnant mares until dataavailable. Use inactivatedvaccine for prepartum booster. If first dose isadministered to foals lessthan 11 months of age, administer 2nd dose at or after 11 months of age.

Rhinopneumonitis (EHV-1 and EHV-4)	First dose: 4 to 6 months Second dose: 5 to 7 months Third dose: 6 to 8 months Then at 3-month intervals	Booster every 3 to 4 months up to annually	Booster every 3 to 4 months up to annually	Optional: semiannual if elected	Fifth, seventh, ninth month of gestation (inactivated EHV-1 vaccine); optional dose at third month of gestation	Vaccination of mares before breeding and 4 to 6 weeks prepartum is suggested. Breeding stallions should be vaccinated before the breeding season and semiannually

Strangles	Injectable: First dose: 4 to 6 months Second dose: 5 to 7 months Third dose: 7 to 8 months (depending on the product used) Fourth dose: 12 months Intranasal: First dose: 6 to 9 months Second dose: 3 weeks later	Semi-annual	Optional: semi-annual if risk is high	Optional: semi-annual if risk is high	Semi-annual with 1 dose of inactivated M-protein vaccine 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Vaccines containing M-protein extract may be less reactive than whole-cell vaccines. Use when endemic conditions exist or risk is high. Foals as young as 6 weeks-of-age may safely receive the intranasal product. A third dose should be administered 2 to 4 weeks prior to weaning.
Rabies	Foals born to non-vaccinated mares: First dose: 3 to 4 months Second dose: 12 months Foals born to vaccinated mares: First dose: 6 months Second dose 7 months Third dose: 12 months	Annual	Annual	Annual	Annual, before breeding	Vaccination recommended in endemic areas. Do not use modified-live-virus vaccines in horses.
Potomac Horse Fever	First dose: 5 to 6 months Second dose: 6 to 7 months	Semi-annual	Semi-annual	Semi-annual	Semi-annual with 1 dose 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Booster during May to June in endemic areas.
Botulism	Foal from vaccinated mare: 3 dose series of toxoid at 30-day intervals starting at 2 to 3 months-of-age Foal from non-vaccinated mare: see comments	Consult your veterinarian	Consult your veterinarian	Consult your veterinarian	Initial 3-dose series at 30-day intervals with last dose 4 to 6 weeks prepartum. Annually thereafter, 4 to 6 weeks prepartum	Only in endemic areas. A third dose administered 4 to 6 weeks after the second dose may improve the response of foals to primary immunization. Foal from non-vaccinated mare may benefit from: 1) toxoid at 2,4 and 8 weeks-of-age; 2) transfusion of plasma from vaccinated horse; or 3) antitoxin. Efficacy needs further study.
Equine Viral Arteritis	Intact colts intended to be breedingstallions: One dose at 6 to 12 months-of-age	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for colts intended to be breeding stallions	Annual for seronegative, open mares before breeding to carrier stallions; isolate mares for 21 days after breeding to carrier stallion	Annual for breeding stallions and teasers, 28 days before start of breeding season; virus may be shed in semen for up to 21 days. Vaccinated mares do not develop clinical signs even though they become transiently infected and may shed virus for a short time.
Rotavirus A	Little value to vaccinate foal because insufficient time to develop antibodies to protect during susceptible age	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable	Vaccinate mares at 8, 9 and 10 months of gestation, each pregnancy. Passive transfer of colostral antibodies aid in prevention of rotaviral diarrhea in foals.	Check concentrations of immunoglobulins in foal to be assured that there is no failure of passive transfer.
*As with administration of all medications, the label and product insert should be read before administration of all vaccines. Schedules for stallions should be consistent with the vaccination program of the adult horse population on the farm and modified according to risk. EEE=eastern equine encephalomyelitis, WEE=western equine encephalomyelitis, VEE=Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis; EHV-1=equine herpes virus type;