Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the largest manufacturers of influenza vaccines for horses, is currently suffering from delivery problems. The resulting vaccine shortage has prompted the World Equestrian Federation (FEI) to change the veterinary regulations.
This change will come into effect on October 1, 2022 and is initially limited to April 1, 2023. The derogation decided on September 8th concerns Article 1003 of the FEI Veterinary Regulations. This still stipulates that booster vaccinations against the equine influenza virus must be given in the six months (+ 21 days) before an international tournament.
This interval was now extended from six to twelve months by resolution of September 8th. From October 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023, all horses who received their last vaccination against influenza within twelve months before the event are eligible to compete in FEI tournaments. According to the FEI press release, this is made possible by combining this measure with increased health monitoring and “a higher level of general biosecurity”. All other requirements of Article 1003 remain in place.
Health monitoring is to be improved during the exemption by means of an extension of Article 1029.7 of the FEI Veterinary Regulations. So far, this has concerned the examination for equine herpesvirus type 1 in horses with fever, but is now being expanded to include the examination for influenza. Specifically, the article states that horses with clinical symptoms of EHV-1 or now equine influenza are not allowed to participate in an FEI event. Horses actually affected by any of the viruses, or those who have been in contact with horses confirmed to be affected, may not participate in an FEI event again until they have “complied with the health requirements set by the FEI Veterinary Department.”
The most common symptoms of equine influenza are severe, drier Coughhigh fever, nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes.
Ensure availability of vaccines for horses that are particularly at risk
The FEI press release further states:
“’The FEI Epidemiology Group, in their investigation into the potential impact of vaccine shortages, has found that even a brief disruption in vaccine supplies could have a significant impact on various types of sport, breeding and leisure horses,’ says FEI Veterinary Director Göran Akerström.
However, the horses at highest risk of contracting the disease, including life-threatening conditions, are horses aged 0 to 4 years who do not yet have a strong immune system to fight equine influenza. In particular, horse breeding and horse racing sectors with young horses could face serious horse welfare problems if vaccines are not available to them. Old, retired horses could also be at high risk.
For this reason, the FEI Working Group on Veterinary Epidemiology has recommended that middle-aged horses, such as B. FEI horses that are at least six years old and regularly vaccinated are considered better protected due to a longer vaccination history. The group agreed that temporarily extending the booster intervals would not put the FEI horse population at risk of developing disease while making vaccines available to the higher risk horse groups in the short term. The equestrian community must now work together to alleviate the very difficult vaccine shortage.
The extension is only a temporary solution and is only possible because FEI horses are well protected after being vaccinated every six to 12 months, often for many years. We will return to the six-month booster interval once vaccine availability returns to normal because we need to continue building that collective immunity over the long term.
The FEI Veterinary Department will continue to monitor the situation and will keep the public updated on a regular basis.”
Meanwhile, Boehringer Ingelheim is taking several measures to counter the delivery delays of the vaccines ProtqeFlu® (EI, equine influenza) and ProteqFlu® (TE, influenza and tetanus vaccine) as best as possible.
The FEI provides more information and an FAQ here ready.
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