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January 24, 2008
The
Infectious Disease Committee of the American Association of Equine
Practitioners has issued revised guidelines for the administration
of vaccinations to 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.
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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.
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“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.
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