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Core EQ Innovator®

Recommended for every horse, every spring. Core EQ Innovator is the only vaccine that provides protection against all five core equine diseases – including rabies – in a single injection.1

The importance of protecting against core diseases

It’s crucial to protect every horse from five core diseases annually. These diseases—West Nile virus, Eastern and Western equine encephalomyelitis (EEE, WEE), rabies, and tetanus—pose significant risks due to their widespread presence and potential fatality. But they’re easy to help prevent, since vaccines that protect against them are extremely effective.2

The carriers of these core diseases, such as mosquitoes, wildlife and soil bacteria, are commonly present in your horse’s regular surroundings. That's why the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) advises annual vaccinations, best given in spring before mosquitoes and wildlife are most active.2 Your veterinarian may also suggest specific risk-based vaccines based on your horse’s age, location and lifestyle.

    Learn more about core and risk-based diseases
    West Nile Virus

    33% fatal2

    Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE)

    90% fatal2

    Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE)

    50% fatal2

    Rabies

    100% fatal2

    Tetanus

    75% fatal3

    The benefits of Core EQ Innovator®

    Only Core EQ Innovator provides protection against all five core diseases in a single injection.1 Plus, research has shown that dividing core and risk-based vaccines into separate injections provided up to 4.7 times the immune response against equine influenza than a combination vaccine that included equine influenza protection.4

    2 million doses sold since 20185
    99.7% reaction-free in field safety studies6,7
    Protection against all five core diseases in a single injection1
    Safe to use for horses 3+ months old and for pregnant mares in their third trimester1

    When should I vaccinate my horse?

    Splitting core from risk-based vaccines allows you to work with your veterinarian to customize a vaccination program best-suited to protect your horse against the diseases most likely to be a threat to her. Learn more about vaccinating your horse for the most common risk-based diseases, equine influenza (flu) and herpesvirus (rhino), with Fluvac Innovator® EHV-4/1. Below is a vaccination schedule for protection from the core diseases and risk-based respiratory diseases aligns to the AAEP guidelines.2

    DiseasesAdult HorsesFoalsBroodmares
    Core Diseases: 
    Rabies
    Tetanus
    West Nile Virus (WNV)
    Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis (EEE)
    Western Equine Encephalomyelitis (WEE)
    Annual revaccination:
    Recommended in spring
    First vaccination at 4 to 6-months of age

    Second dose 4-6 weeks after the first dose

    Booster at 10-12 months of age and annually thereafter
    Annual revaccination and administer 4-6 weeks pre-partum

    Core EQ Innovator is the first and only vaccine that includes protection against all five core diseases and has been demonstrated safe for use in broodmares during the third trimester.8
     
    Risk-based Respiratory Diseases:
    Equine Influenza Virus (EIV)
    Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1 and EHV-4)
    Annual revaccination:
    Recommended in spring

    Horses at increased risk of exposure may receive booster every 6 months
    First vaccination at 4 to 6-months of age

    Second dose 3-4 weeks after first dose 

    Booster 10-12 months following the first dose and annually thereafter

    Horses at increased risk of exposure may receive booster every 6 months
    Annual revaccination and administer 4-6 weeks pre-partum

    Broodmares with ongoing risk of exposure should be boostered every 6 months
     

    In addition, other risk-based diseases may also pose a threat to your horse based on his unique needs and circumstances. Your veterinarian can provide guidance on which additional vaccines from the Zoetis portfolio may be appropriate for your horse’s vaccination schedule. See the vaccination guides below for adult horses, broodmares and foals for recommendations on what Zoetis vaccines may be appropriate for your horse’s unique needs.

    What sets Zoetis Innovator vaccines apart?

    MetaStim® Adjuvant

    Only Zoetis Innovator vaccines are optimized with the MetaStim® adjuvant, designed to make presenting antigens into your horse’s immune system safe and effective, leading to an improved immune response.11,12

    Microfiltered 5x

    Zoetis Innovator vaccines are microfiltered five times to remove excess proteins that could lead to increased reactivity, resulting in greater antigen purity.

    Zoetis Vaccine Support Program

    When you protect your horse with Core EQ Innovator and Fluvac Innovator EHV-4/1 vaccines, you are also protected with one of the industry’s best equine immunization support guarantees. This reimburses up to $5,000 for documented diagnostic and treatment costs if a veterinarian properly administers one of these vaccines and the horse later contracts the corresponding disease. For complete details and requirements, see the Zoetis Equine Immunization Support Guarantee certificate.

    Core diseases and your horse's health

    Articles

    Browse our collection of blog posts to learn how Zoetis Equine vaccines can help your horse receive the best care possible.

    Disease Prevention

    Apr 14, 2022

    Is your horse protected?

    Disease Prevention

    Apr 15, 2021

    What vaccines does your horse need?

    Equine Wellness

    Oct 24, 2022

    Your fall wellness horse care checklist

    Equine Wellness

    Feb 17, 2023

    Spring tune-up: Wellness tips for your horse

    Disease Prevention

    Sep 05, 2021

    The risk of rabies is real for horses

    Helpful Documents

    What vaccines does my horse need?

    A comprehensive guide to vaccinations your horse may need.

    Broodmare vaccination guide

    A comprehensive vaccine guide to help protect a pregnant mare and her developing foal from the common equine diseases.

    Foal vaccination guide

    View our guide to learn about the series of vaccines recommended for foals during their first year of life. 

    Adult horse vaccination guide

    Both yearlings and adult horses adhere to the same vaccination schedule. View our guide to learn when to vaccinate.

    Extended portfolio of Zoetis vaccines

    Vaccinating against the five potentially fatal core equine diseases, plus any risk-based diseases based on your horse’s age, location and lifestyle, is the key to proactive protection. Together with your veterinarian, our safe and effective industry-leading vaccines have your horse’s back.

    RISK-BASED

    Equine Influenza Virus

    Ask a Vet

    Fluvac Innovator® EHV-4/1

    The #1 equine respiratory vaccine on the market.13 Fluvac Innovator EHV-4/1 provides trusted protection against the risks of equine influenza and herpesvirus.

    CORE

    West Nile Virus

    Ask a Vet

    West Nile-Innovator®

    This line of vaccines aids in the prevention of West Nile, equine encephalomyelitis due to Eastern, Western and Venezuelan viruses, and tetanus. In a study, it was demonstrated to be 96.7% effective in immunologically naive horses.14

    RISK-BASED

    Strangles

    Ask a vet

    Pinnacle® I.N.

    (modified-live streptococcus equi)

    Helps protect horses against strangles, the only modified-live bacterial vaccine developed to help prevent strangles caused by Streptococcus equi.

    Badge

    Hoof Care

    Ask a vet

    Pneumabort-K®+ 1b

    (killed equine herpesvirus type 1 vaccine)

    The only equine vaccine labeled for use in pregnant mares to aid in the prevention of abortion due to equine herpes virus type 1 (EHV-1) infections and to help prevent respiratory infections cause by EHV-1p and EHV-1b.15-18

    RISK-BASED

    Equine Rotavirus

    Ask a Vet

    Equine Rotavirus Vaccine*

    For the vaccination of pregnant mares to provide passive transfer of antibodies to foals against equine rotavirus, a viral diarrhea.

    *This product is conditionally licensed by the USDA while additional efficacy and potency data are being developed.

    RISK-BASED

    Equine Leptospirosis

    Ask a Vet

    Lepto EQ Innovator®

    (leptospira pomona bacterin)

    The first and only equine vaccine to help prevent leptospirosis in horses which may cause abortion, equine recurrent uvetitis, or renal disease.

    RISK-BASED

    Equine Arteritis

    Ask a Vet

    Arvac®

    (equine arteritis vaccine)

    Shown to be effective for the vaccination of healthy non-stressed adult horses as an aid in the prevention of viral abortion and respiratory infection due to equine arteritis virus.

    CORE

    Multiple Diseases

    Ask a Vet

    Equiloid Innovator®

    For the vaccination of healthy horses as an aid in the prevention of equine
    encephalomyelitis due to Eastern and Western viruses, and tetanus.

    Learn more about our vaccines

    References

    1. Data on file. Study Report No. B951R-US-20-160, Zoetis Inc. 
    2. American Association of Equine Practitioners. Vaccination Guidelines. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines. Accessed October 11, 2023.
    3. MacKay R. Tetanus. In: Sellon DC, Long M, eds. Equine Infectious Diseases, 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2007:368-372.
    4. Data on file, Study Report No. 14OREQBIO-1, Zoetis Inc.
    5. Data on file, ZMR sales data for CORE EQ INNOVATOR® and CORE EQ INNOVATOR® + V. Zoetis Inc., 2018-2022. 
    6. Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-14-056, Zoetis Inc. 
    7. Data on file, Study Report No. B951R-US-16-106, Zoetis Inc.
    8. Ma X, Monroe BP, Cleaton JM, et al. Rabies Surveillance in the United States during 2016. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;252(8):945-957.
    9. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Pet Statistics.  https://www.aspca.org/helping-people-pets/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics Accessed June 29, 2018.
    10. American Horse Council; Washington, D.C; 2017 Economic Impact of the U.S. Horse Industry.
    11. Davis EG, Zhang Y, Tuttle J, Hankins K, Wilkerson M. Investigation of antigen specific lymphocyte responses in healthy horses vaccinated with an inactivated West Nile virus vaccine. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2008;126(3-4):293-301.
    12. Horohov DW, Dunham J, Liu C, et al. Characterization of the in situ immunological responses to vaccine adjuvants. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 2015;164(1-2):24-29.
    13. Animalytix Segment Data, Equine Vaccines, MAT June 2022 (accessed June 20, 2022).
    14. Epp T, Waldner C, Townsend HGG. A case-control study of factors associated with development of clinical disease due to West Nile virus, Saskatchewan 2003. Equine Vet J. 2007;39:498-503
    15. Bryans JT, Allen GP. Application of a chemically inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine to control abortigenic infection of mares by equine herpesvirus 1. Dev Biol Stand. 1982;52:493-498.
    16. Tengelsen LA, Yamini B, Mullaney TP, et al. A 12-year retrospective study of equine abortion in Michigan. J Vet Diagn Invest. 1997;9(3):303-306.
    17. Giles RC, Donahue JM, Hong CB, et al. Causes of abortion, stillbirth, and perinatal death in horses: 3,527 cases (1986-1991).  J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1993;203(8):1170-1175.
    18. Hong CB, Donahue JM, Giles RC, et al. Equine abortion and stillbirth in central Kentucky during 1988 and 1989 foaling seasons. J Vet Diagn Invest. 1993;5(4):560-566.