Species
A close-up of a horse wearing a green halter, standing outdoors near a house on a sunny day.
A close-up of a horse wearing a green halter, standing outdoors near a house on a sunny day.

Equine vaccines

Exceptional protection is always an elite choice.

Infectious disease risk is everywhere. Thankfully, we can mitigate these risks and protect horses from infectious disease through effective and efficient vaccination, along with proper biosecurity measures. 

Why should horses be vaccinated?

Pathogenic microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, can cause infectious disease in horses and can be spread — animal to animal, insects to animal, environment to animal, and even at times, from animals to humans. Horses that contract an infectious disease may experience poor performance, short and long-term health issues and even death.  

 

Vaccination is one of the most efficient and effective methods of protecting horses against infectious disease by stimulating the horse’s immune system, mimicking the exposure to the infectious organism without causing disease.  

The highest standard in practice

Eddie Woods, owner of the Eddie Woods Training Center in Ocala, Florida, and his veterinarian, Bill Russell, DVM, Peterson Smith Equine Hospital + Complete Care, trust in Boehringer Ingelheim vaccines to protect the elite-competition horses in their care. 

Building a vaccination program

A “standard” vaccination protocol for all horses does not exist. Each individual horse’s situation requires an evaluation to determine contributing risk factors, like:

  • Exposure to disease
  • Age
  • Breed
  • Use or discipline
  • Consequences of the disease
  • Potential adverse reactions to vaccines
  • Cost of immunization compared to cost of clinical illness

 

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), vaccines are split into two categories: core and risk-based.

 

Core vaccines are recommended by the AAEP for all horses against diseases that are endemic to a region, carry potential public health significance, and/or pose a risk of severe disease. In the United States, core vaccines include:

  • Tetanus
  • Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE)
  • Western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE)
  • West Nile virus (WNV)
  • Rabies

 

Risk-based vaccines are recommended by veterinarians, based on a horse’s individual health history, region, contact with other horses and their job. Risk-based vaccines may include:

  • Equine influenza virus (EIV)
  • Equine herpesvirus Types 1 and 4 (EHV-1 & EHV-4)
  • Strangles
  • Potomac horse fever
  • Botulism
  • Leptospirosis
  • Equine viral arteritis
  • Anthrax
  • Snake bite

 

Some pathogens, like equine influenza virus (EIV), change and adapt over time, meaning choosing the right vaccine containing relevant strains is essential to achieving immunity. Vaccines containing outdated strains may provide suboptimal protection. Clinical signs may be reduced, but vaccinated horses may shed as much live virus as non-vaccinated horses.

 

Beyond determining which diseases to vaccinate against, it’s important to consider the duration of protection a vaccine provides. Some may only need to be administered annually, while others may require additional booster vaccinations throughout the year. In foals, the presence of maternal antibodies may require a different protocol to maximize protection. 

Vaccines you can trust

The entire portfolio of Boehringer Ingelheim equine vaccines has undergone extensive research and study to ensure every vaccine delivers the highest standard of care and disease protection. 

Products

Vetera Gold vaccine for equine encephalomyelitis, influenza, and tetanus in 1 and 10 doses.

VETERA® GOLDXP

The VETERA vaccine line features a wide range of progressive choices with a variety of disease coverage. The ULTRAFIL™ purification technology, CARBIMMUNE® adjuvant system and appropriate strains contained in VETERA vaccines make them a revolutionary approach to disease protection within the equine industry. 

Learn more
Vetera Gold vaccine for equine encephalomyelitis, influenza, and tetanus in 1 and 10 doses.

VETERA® GOLDXP

The VETERA vaccine line features a wide range of progressive choices with a variety of disease coverage. The ULTRAFIL™ purification technology, CARBIMMUNE® adjuvant system and appropriate strains contained in VETERA vaccines make them a revolutionary approach to disease protection within the equine industry. 

Learn more
Calvenza-03 vaccine for equine rhinopneumonitis and influenza in 1 and 10 doses.

CALVENZA®-03 EIV/EHV
CALVENZA-03 EIV/EHV was the first equine influenza vaccine updated to contain Florida sublineage clade 1 influenza strain, following OIE guidelines.  

Learn more
Calvenza-03 vaccine for equine rhinopneumonitis and influenza in 1 and 10 doses.

CALVENZA®-03 EIV/EHV
CALVENZA-03 EIV/EHV was the first equine influenza vaccine updated to contain Florida sublineage clade 1 influenza strain, following OIE guidelines.  

Learn more
Strepvax II bacterial extract for equine streptococcus equi in 1 and 10 doses.

STREPVAX® II

STREPVAX is an easy-to-use, injectable strangles vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses against Streptococcus equi infection. 

Learn more
Strepvax II bacterial extract for equine streptococcus equi in 1 and 10 doses.

STREPVAX® II

STREPVAX is an easy-to-use, injectable strangles vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses against Streptococcus equi infection. 

Learn more
Vetera Gold vaccine for equine encephalomyelitis, influenza, and tetanus in 1 and 10 doses.

VETERA® GOLDXP

The VETERA vaccine line features a wide range of progressive choices with a variety of disease coverage. The ULTRAFIL™ purification technology, CARBIMMUNE® adjuvant system and appropriate strains contained in VETERA vaccines make them a revolutionary approach to disease protection within the equine industry. 

Learn more
Vetera Gold vaccine for equine encephalomyelitis, influenza, and tetanus in 1 and 10 doses.

VETERA® GOLDXP

The VETERA vaccine line features a wide range of progressive choices with a variety of disease coverage. The ULTRAFIL™ purification technology, CARBIMMUNE® adjuvant system and appropriate strains contained in VETERA vaccines make them a revolutionary approach to disease protection within the equine industry. 

Learn more
Calvenza-03 vaccine for equine rhinopneumonitis and influenza in 1 and 10 doses.

CALVENZA®-03 EIV/EHV
CALVENZA-03 EIV/EHV was the first equine influenza vaccine updated to contain Florida sublineage clade 1 influenza strain, following OIE guidelines.  

Learn more
Calvenza-03 vaccine for equine rhinopneumonitis and influenza in 1 and 10 doses.

CALVENZA®-03 EIV/EHV
CALVENZA-03 EIV/EHV was the first equine influenza vaccine updated to contain Florida sublineage clade 1 influenza strain, following OIE guidelines.  

Learn more
Strepvax II bacterial extract for equine streptococcus equi in 1 and 10 doses.

STREPVAX® II

STREPVAX is an easy-to-use, injectable strangles vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses against Streptococcus equi infection. 

Learn more
Strepvax II bacterial extract for equine streptococcus equi in 1 and 10 doses.

STREPVAX® II

STREPVAX is an easy-to-use, injectable strangles vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses against Streptococcus equi infection. 

Learn more

IMRAB + Potomavac rabies vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin in 5 and 10 doses.

IMRAB® + POTOMAVACTM

IMRAB + POTOMAVAC combines an inactivated rabies virus with an inactivated suspension of Neorickettsia risticii for the vaccination of healthy horses against rabies virus and Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
IMRAB + Potomavac rabies vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin in 5 and 10 doses.

IMRAB® + POTOMAVACTM

IMRAB + POTOMAVAC combines an inactivated rabies virus with an inactivated suspension of Neorickettsia risticii for the vaccination of healthy horses against rabies virus and Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
Potomavac vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin for equine in 5 and 10 doses.

POTOMAVACTM
POTOMAVAC is an inactivated vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses 3 months of age or older against Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
Potomavac vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin for equine in 5 and 10 doses.

POTOMAVACTM
POTOMAVAC is an inactivated vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses 3 months of age or older against Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
IMRAB + Potomavac rabies vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin in 5 and 10 doses.

IMRAB® + POTOMAVACTM

IMRAB + POTOMAVAC combines an inactivated rabies virus with an inactivated suspension of Neorickettsia risticii for the vaccination of healthy horses against rabies virus and Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
IMRAB + Potomavac rabies vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin in 5 and 10 doses.

IMRAB® + POTOMAVACTM

IMRAB + POTOMAVAC combines an inactivated rabies virus with an inactivated suspension of Neorickettsia risticii for the vaccination of healthy horses against rabies virus and Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
Potomavac vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin for equine in 5 and 10 doses.

POTOMAVACTM
POTOMAVAC is an inactivated vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses 3 months of age or older against Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
Potomavac vaccine with Neorickettsia Risticii bacterin for equine in 5 and 10 doses.

POTOMAVACTM
POTOMAVAC is an inactivated vaccine that has been shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy horses 3 months of age or older against Potomac Horse Fever. 

Learn more
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Our unmatched resources

Download the EHV Technical Bulletin for an in-depth look at EHV-1 risk evaluation, based on biomarker responses to vaccination with CALVENZA® and VETERA® vaccines. 

Download bulletin

*Boehringer Ingelheim Assured Vaccines covers respiratory forms of EHV1/EHV4. 

 

IMRAB®, STREPVAX® and CARBIMMUNE® are registered trademarks and POTOMAVAC™ and ULTRAFIL™ are trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc. CALVENZA® and VETERA® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica GmbH, used under license. ©2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc., Duluth, GA. All rights reserved. US-EQU-0103-2021-V3