Equip F vaccination of horses against equine influenza-Hyperdrug

Dosage and administration Dose: 2 ml Administration Equip F should be shaken thoroughly before use and administered by deep intramuscular injection. To provide protection against influenza Equip F should be used as follows:

and thereafter, booster doses at 12–15 month intervals. Note: The routine practice of administering booster doses annually may remain the most convenient, even though protection against equine influenza has been demonstrated by challenge studies 15 months following the third vaccination. No field challenge studies have been carried out prior to the third vaccination; instead efficacy was evaluated by serology which showed titres equivalent to those found in horses protected against challenge at 15 months. Equip F has been shown to be safe in 3--4 month old foals. However, the efficacy of active immunisation of young foals against equine influenza will be influenced by the level of maternally derived antibodies. This will vary between individuals due to a number of factors, e.g. the immune status of the dam; adequacy of colostral intake by the foal, etc. Only once maternally derived antibodies have fallen below protective levels can optimum efficacy of vaccination be assured. Note The routine practice of administering booster doses annually may remain the most convenient, even though protection against equine influenza has been demonstrated by challenge studies 15 months following the third vaccination. No field challenge studies have been carried out prior to the third vaccination; instead efficacy was evaluated by serology which showed titres equivalent to those found in horses protected against challenge at 15 months. Equip F has been shown to be safe in 3--4 month old foals. However, the efficacy of active immunisation of young foals against equine influenza will be influenced by the level of maternally derived antibodies. This will vary between individuals due to a number of factors, e.g. the immune status of the dam; adequacy of colostral intake by the foal, etc. Only once maternally derived antibodies have fallen below protective levels can optimum efficacy of vaccination be assured.

Contra-indications, warnings, etc Avoid stress when vaccinating heavily pregnant mares, since it is recognised that there is always an inherent risk in these procedures at this time. Only healthy horses should be vaccinated. Horses which have received immuno-suppressive drugs, e.g. glucocorticoids, should not be vaccinated until an interval of at least four weeks has elapsed. As with all vaccines, occasional hypersensitivity reactions may occur although the nature of Equip F makes these extremely unlikely. In the event of an allergic or anaphylactic reaction, immediate treatment should be given with a soluble glucocorticoid intravenously (e.g. betamethasone sodium phosphate) or adrenalin intramuscularly. A small proportion of animals may exhibit a reaction to vaccination. This may be manifest by a mild, transient rise in temperature, typically 9-12 hours post vaccination, or a small, soft local swelling at the injection site. Both conditions are shown to have resolved the day following vaccination and are considered to be insignificant. Pharmaceutical precautions Store between +2° and +8°C. Protect from light. Do not freeze.

Legal category POM-V (previously POM). Packaging Quantities 10×2 ml doses. Further information In any animal population there may be a small number of individuals which fail to respond fully to vaccination. Successful vaccination depends upon correct storage and administration of the vaccine together with the animal's ability to respond. This can be influenced by such factors as genetic constitution, intercurrent infection, age, the presence of maternally derived antibodies, nutritional status, concurrent drug therapy and stress. Marketing authorisation number Vm 00201/4210.

Equip F (10 dose)