Equine flu vaccine supply issues being monitored

Minor interruptions to the supply of vaccines have already been noted in 2022 by the vet association along with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and British Equestrian, and further problems being experienced by Boehringer Ingelheim have raised the prospect of further reduction in supplies in the upcoming months.
In order to not disrupt equine health and welfare, BEVA has announced it was collaborating with three vaccine manufacturers with products in the UK to look at solutions and quantify the impact of the shortage.
Equine business head at Boehringer Ingelheim, Marc Laemmer, has stated: “We are currently experiencing a European-wide supply issue relating to our equine influenza and influenza-tetanus vaccines. This has been caused by unexpected issues following the implementation of a technology upgrade and is not a product or quality issue. This means that some vet practices will have difficulty obtaining sufficient influenza vaccines, and there may be a shortage in the UK market. We understand the importance of these vaccines to equine welfare, and we are continuing to work tirelessly to find a solution so that we can return to normal supply as soon as possible.”
Equine business manager at MSD Animal Health, Amanda Melvin, has stated: “Based on prior demand, MSD’s equine vaccines are in full supply. MSD has taken steps to protect as many horses as possible at this time. We will continue to supply existing customers with the available MSD stock on ‘allocation’ and, where possible, to allocate stock to additional customers. Allocations are being made to our veterinary customers based on their historical demand, which we believe is the most efficient way to manage the available supplies.”