What vaccines do horses need?
A good immunization program is essential in responsible horse ownership. 1. Vaccination serves to minimize the risk of infection, but does not prevent disease in all circumstances. 2. Primary series of vaccines and booster doses should be administered before likely exposure. 3. Each horse in a population is not protected to an equal degree nor for an equal duration following vaccination. 4. All horses in a herd should be appropriately vaccinated; and, whenever possible, the same schedule should be followed. Vaccination involves the administration (usually by injection or intranasally) of the causative organisms or important components of those organisms that are inactivated or modified to avoid casing actual disease in the horse. Two or more doses are usually needed to initiate an adequate immune response. A booster is needed at regular intervals to maintain adequate protection. Vaccinations Needed The specific immunizations needed by a particular horse or horses depend upon several fa