Strangvac

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription and is available as a suspension for injection into a muscle. The vaccination course is 2 injections, given 4 weeks apart. Protection starts 2 weeks after the second injection and lasts for 2 months. It is recommended to repeat the vaccination course after two months for horses at high risk of infection.

For more information about using Strangvac, see the package leaflet or contact your veterinarian or pharmacist.

Strangvac is a vaccine. Vaccines work by ‘teaching’ the immune system (the body’s natural defences) how to defend itself against a disease. Strangvac contains proteins of the bacterium Streptococcus equi. These proteins cannot cause disease. When Strangvac is given to horses, the horses’ immune system recognises the proteins as ‘foreign’ and makes antibodies against them. These antibodies help the horses to fight infection if they are exposed to the bacterium.

The effectiveness of Strangvac has been shown in laboratory studies in which vaccination of horses with Strangvac reduced clinical signs compared to unvaccinated animals. In two studies, horses were vaccinated with two doses of either Strangvac or placebo (dummy injection) before being artificially exposed to Streptococcus equi. Of the placebo vaccinated animals, 100% (20 out of 20) showed fever after exposure to Streptococcus equi. Of the vaccinated animals, 43% (12 out of 28) did not show fever, difficulty in swallowing or signs of marked depression (loss of appetite, marked change in demeanour) after exposure to Streptococcus equi and 36% (10 out of 28) did not show signs of coughing after exposure.

Data from additional studies in which horses were revaccinated with a single injection after the first vaccination course were not sufficient. Therefore, if revaccination of horses at high risk of infection is needed, it is recommended that the vaccination course with two injections is repeated.

The most common side effects with Strangvac (which may affect more than 1 in 10 animals) that may last for up to five days following vaccination are transient increase in body temperature of up to 2.6°C, transient local tissue reactions at the injection site, characterised by heat, pain and swelling (approximately 5 cm diameter) and ocular (eye) discharge which may be mucopurulent (containing mucus and pus).

For the full list of side effects of Strangvac, see the package leaflet.

In case of accidental self-injection, medical advice should be sought immediately and the package leaflet or label shown to the doctor.

The withdrawal period is the time required after administration of a medicine before an animal can be slaughtered and the meat used for human consumption.

The withdrawal period for meat from horses vaccinated with Strangvac is ‘zero’ days, which means that there is no mandatory waiting time.

The European Medicines Agency decided that Strangvac’s benefits are greater than its risks and it can be authorised for use in the EU.

Strangvac received a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU on 16 August 2021.