Update regarding European shortage of equine influenza vaccinations

The FEI recently announced that The FEI Board has approved a temporary exemption to the FEI Veterinary Regulations in response to the shortage of vaccines in Europe created by supply issues facing Boehringer Ingelheim, a key producer of equine influenza vaccinations.

The FEI decided on September 8th to extend the booster intervals from six to 12 months in combination with increased disease surveillance and a higher level of general biosecurity.

Following on from this announcement, Horse Sport Ireland has received an update from Boehringer Ingelheim regarding the current European-wide supply issue relating to Proteq® Flu and Proteq® Flu-Te, equine influenza and tetanus vaccination products.

Boehringer Ingelheim have said that the current shortage is not related to a production or quality issue; but has been caused by unexpected data and system integration issues following the implementation of a technology upgrade. As a result, Proteq® Flu and Proteq® Flu-Te are experiencing supply disruptions and this is leading to a shortage of stock for some vet practices which is likely to continue until the end of October.

Boehringer Ingelheim have said that they understand the importance of these vaccines and the implications this may have on the industry, and are continuing to work tirelessly to find a solution so that they can return to normal supply as soon as possible.