Recommended Vaccines for Tidewater/ Hampton Roads

If the vaccination history of your horse is uncertain, the vaccination protocol that we recommend is as follows:

  • Encephalitis/Tetanus/Rhinopneumonitis/Influenza/West Nile Virus

  • Also known as 6-way, EEE/WEE/Tet/Rhino/Flu/WNV or “WNV Combo”

  • Initial vaccination needs to be boostered in 3-6 weeks

  • Booster twice per year

Streptococcus equi (Strangles)

  • Also known as “Strep”

  • Initial vaccination needs to be boostered in 2-3 weeks

  • Booster once per year

Equine Rabies

  • This vaccination is to be boostered once per year

Although Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) is not common in this area, it is recommended to vaccinate your horse with PHF when transporting your horse to Maryland, Eastern Virginia or to areas that have seen this disease.  Please consult with the veterinarians in your destination area to see if this vaccination or any others would be recommended for your horse.

While Botulism has traditionally been considered to be a risk mainly for horses in the Northeast and horses eating round bales of hay, the disease has been identified in North Carolina and Virginia.  Therefore, we are recommending this vaccine for all horses in this area. The inital vaccination must be boostered in four weeks, and again in eight weeks.  Thereafter boostered once per year.

Foal Vaccination Schedule

Pregnant mares should be vaccinated in their 3rd,  5th, 7th, and 9th months of pregnancy for EHV-1 (Rhinopneumonitis) with Pneumobort-K.

Pregnant mares should be vaccinated for EEE/WEE/Tet/Flu/Rhino/WNV, Strep and Rabies 4-6 weeks prior to foaling.  Optional vaccines – Botulism and Rotavirus in months 8, 9, and 10 of gestation.

Vaccination                                                  Foal Age                        

EEE/WEE/Tet/Rhino/WNV                             4, 5, 6 and 12 months

Rabies                                                          6, 7 and 12 months

Influenza intranasal OR                                  7 and 12 months

                  Influenza IM                               6, 7, 8 and 12 months

Strangles intranasal OR                                  6, 7 and 12 months

                  Strangles IM                               4, 5, 6 and 12 months