The Infectious Disease Committee of the American
Association of Equine Practitioners has issued revised guidelines
for the vaccination of horses. The Committee, chaired by Mary
Scollay, DVM, has made recommendations for the use of vaccines
based on the age of the horse and its previous vaccination
history. The guidelines are intended to serve as a reference
for veterinarians as they employ vaccines in their respective
practices.
Highlights of “Guidelines for the Vaccination
of Horses” include:
· The identification of tetanus, Eastern/Western
Equine Encephalomyelitis, West Nile virus and rabies as “core”
vaccines. Core vaccines have clearly demonstrated efficacy
and safety, and exhibit a high enough level of patient benefit
and low enough level of risk to justify their use in the majority
of patients.
· The addition of a vaccination protocol
for anthrax.
· Recommendations for the storage and
handling of vaccines, as well as information on vaccine labeling
and adverse reactions.
· Inclusion of the AAEP’s Infectious
Disease Control Guidelines, which provide an action plan for
the containment of infectious disease during an outbreak.
The Committee stresses that veterinarians,
through an appropriate veterinarian-client-patient relationship,
should use the vaccination guidelines coupled with available
products to determine the best professional care for their
patients. Horse owners should consult with a licensed veterinarian
before initiating a vaccination program.
“The goal of the guidelines is to provide
current information that will enable veterinarians and clients
to make thoughtful and educated decisions on vaccinating horses
in their care,” explained Dr. Scollay. “The vaccination schedules
are complemented by supporting information on topics including
vaccine technology and disease risk-assessment, allowing veterinarians
to customize vaccination programs specific to the needs of
an individual horse or group of horses. The impact of infectious
disease has been felt across the equine industry in recent
years, and the Committee hopes that these guidelines will
be a useful tool in preventing or mitigating the effects of
equine infectious disease.”
The Committee, comprised of researchers, vaccine
manufacturers and private practitioners, updated guidelines
that were established by the AAEP in 2001.
The complete document, along with easy reference
charts, is available on the AAEP Web site at http://www.aaep.org/vaccination_guidelines.htm.
The American Association of Equine Practitioners,
headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, was founded in 1954
as a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare
of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million
horse owners through its 9,000 members worldwide and is actively
involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and
continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and
horse industry.
