Equine vaccine combinations that include West Nile virus and equine influenza/equine herpesvirus (rhino) antigens in a single formulation are convenient, but they may sacrifice a horse’s immunity, according to research. A study showed that separate administration of Zoetis’ West Nile-Innovator and Fluvac Innovator generated four times the immune response to West Nile virus than was produced by a big one-shot combination vaccine.
West Nile-Innovator and Fluvac Innovator are the gold standard for horse owners and veterinarians. Innovator is the only brand of vaccines adjuvanted with MetaStim, a proprietary adjuvant system designed for safe, enhanced presentation of antigens to the horse’s immune system, featuring a dual-phase formulation shown to stimulate both cell-mediated and humoral immunity to West Nile virus for improved immune responses.
“Dividing antigens into concurrent, separate injections may help increase the horse’s immune response to West Nile.” said Kevin Hankins, DVM, senior veterinarian, Equine Technical Services, Zoetis. “While big one-shot combination vaccines may offer convenience, when developing vaccine programs for West Nile virus protection, veterinarians and horse owners should consider the implications of lower West Nile virus antibody responses in horses vaccinated with a West Nile virus combination vaccine. Though combination vaccines may provide some convenience, optimization of West Nile virus immune response could likely pose a substantial criterion for vaccine selection.”
The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Vaccination Guidelines recommend an evaluation of each individual horse’s situation and vaccinating according to his needs. Dividing West Nile and equine influenza/equine herpesvirus (rhino) vaccinations into separate injections allows tailoring of each horse’s vaccination program.
The Equine Immunization Support Guarantee from Zoetis, the most comprehensive guarantee available, delivers additional confidence in your equine vaccination program. With the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee, if a horse shows clinical signs for an equine disease for which he was vaccinated, Zoetis will help cover the diagnostic investigation to determine with what the horse is infected. If diagnostics confirm disease, Zoetis will also cover diagnostic and therapeutic charges up to $5,000. To be eligible, a horse must be vaccinated by a veterinarian.Diseases covered by the Equine Immunization Support Guarantee include: rhinopneumonitis (equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4, respiratory), West Nile, equine influenza, tetanus, Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Western equine encephalitis (WEE) and Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE).