Melissa Kite Melissa Kite

Why I won’t be following the new equine vaccine regime

The vet has admitted that an extra dose of the flu jab doesn’t confer any additional immunity

I made a mental note to try even less hard than I already do when I have jumping lessons [Zocha_K]

When the vet had finished giving my horses their annual flu boosters, she reminded me the vaccination regime had changed. For the purpose of competing, horses must be vaccinated for flu every six months, which is something that had passed me by.

What with worrying about human vaccines, I had not noticed this change in the rules for equestrian jabs.

I thought about it for a split second, then decided. ‘Lucky I don’t compete then,’ I told her. Because being a rabid anti-vaxxer, I don’t want my horses pumped more full of vaccine than is absolutely necessary.

And this is precisely the sort of irrational and illogical reaction people have come to expect from someone like me.

I admit it, I’m so anti-vaccine I pay a vet to come out and give my horses a flu jab every year, and I don’t just unquestioningly agree when, after 20 years of this routine, for various horses, with no problems, the vet suddenly informs me that many owners are giving the same jab every six months now.

‘He’s a therapy dog.’

‘In terms of immunity,’ said the young girl, as she put the used syringes back into the boot of a 4×4 she didn’t look old enough to drive, ‘it obviously doesn’t make any difference.’ (The vets are now so young you have to help them. This one wrote April 2021 beside the vaccine stamp on the horse passport.)

‘I’m sorry, what?’ I asked. ‘Well, obviously, they don’t need vaccinating every six months, it’s just the rules have changed.’

I suppose this rule change will, coincidentally, make everyone involved, from vets to vaccine manufacturers, a nice pile of money, but all the same I said I would ring and make an appointment as usual next year.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading with a free trial

Subscribe and get your first month of online and app access for free. After that it’s just £1 a week.

There’s no commitment, you can cancel any time.

Or

Unlock more articles

REGISTER

Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in