Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture to include “safe for use in pregnant mares” as part of their label claim for their Vetera vaccine portfolio in January 2016. This approval allows BIVI to offer the market two vaccine portfolios, VETERA and Calvenza that have performed safety studies in pregnant mares.

The USDA approved the additional label claim based on safety studies performed in a total of 446 pregnant mares vaccinated twice during each trimester of pregnancy.

The VETERA line of vaccines, which protects against a number of diseases, including equine influenza virus (EIV), has long been a staple within the BIVI line of vaccines. With the introduction of the VETERA XP line in 2013, BIVI is the only company which currently adheres to the current OIE Expert Surveillance Panel on Equine Influenza recommendations by including vaccine strains which offers direct protection against Florida clade 1 and Florida clade 2 equine influenza.

“The approval of this label claim offers veterinarians and horse owners peace of mind in the safety of the VETERA vaccine portfolio when used in pregnant mares,” says Dr. John Tuttle, senior associate director equine professional services, BIVI.

The additional label claim further supports BIVI’s commitment to providing safe and effective vaccines for all horses.

For more information on VETERA XP vaccines, contact Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica at 800-325-9167, or visit www.bi-vetmedica.com.