IHRB to review vaccination protocols in two weeks after meeting trainers

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has agreed to review its vaccination protocols in two weeks' time after coming under pressure from trainers on Monday.

However, as of Tuesday night, horses must have received a booster vaccine within the previous 56 days in order to be eligible to race in Ireland, and horses who have been vaccinated within the last seven days will not be permitted to run.

Denis Egan, chief executive of the IHRB, moved to clarify the situation on Tuesday night, saying: "The scientific advice is that in addition to boosting the immunity of the horse herd, these steps will provide greater protection to individual horses.

"The IHRB met with various stakeholders yesterday. The enhanced measures currently in place will be reviewed in two weeks."

Denis Egan: 'These steps will provide greater protection to individual horses'Credit: INPHO/Morgan Treacy

It is expected that if horses are vaccinated with the appropriate vaccine for equine influenza which contains the Clade 1 virus after February 8, they will not be required to receive a further emergency booster vaccination.

IHRB veterinary officers and assistants will continue carrying out inspections, with increased scrutiny at the entrance to racecourse stables and at point-to-points on all horses.

An equine flu outbreak caused racing in Britain to be cancelled for six days, with a ban on British-trained horses running in Ireland lifted on Monday night.

Britain-trained horses can run in Ireland provided they have been vaccinated within 56 days but not within the previous seven days.

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