Vaccination Protocol
New Theories on Foal Vaccination
Maternal antibodies in colostrum may interfere with effectiveness of early vaccinations.
Traditionally, it was recommended that foal vaccinations begin at 3 to 4 months of age. This
was thought to be the age that antibodies from the foal?s dam began to decline enough that
the foals own immune system could generate it?s own protection. However, according to Dr. W.
David Wilson, B.V.M.S., MS, a researcher at University of California, Davis, maternal antibodies
passed from the mare to her foal appear to interfere with responses to vaccinations for a much
longer period than originally thought.
Unless there is a high risk of the foal acquiring specific disease, Dr. Wilson believes it is best to
wait a little longer to reduce the chances that maternal antibodies will interfere. If vaccinations
are given prior to 6 months of age, the foal would need a booster at 6 months old. **
This theory appears to apply to influenza, tetanus, sleeping sickness, rabies and to some extent
rhinopneumonitis. It does not appear to affect intranasal vaccines.
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**Please contact your veterinarian before changing your vaccination protocol
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