The article ‘Hendra vaccine fears’, published in the South Coast Register on February 18 contains seriously false and misleading claims.

Hendra virus is a ghastly, deadly disease which has killed people and continues to kill horses on the east coast of Australia every year. 

Horse owners are fortunate that a safe and effective Hendra vaccine has now been invented by the CSIRO in Australia in conjunction with internationally renowned, leading US scientists. The CSIRO is one of the world’s leading and most respected scientific research bodies. 

Your article states: “The effectiveness of the vaccine in the face of Hendra virus disease outbreak has not been studied…” This is incorrect. The CSIRO spent years studying and developing the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of the Hendra vaccine against Hendra virus, before having the vaccine approved by the Australian government.

The article also states that the vaccine “…was given a limited permit… for horses in direct areas affected by the virus”. This is incorrect. The vaccine is permitted by the government for use in all areas of Australia. 

While not questioning Ms Clarke’s ability to care for horses at the Sussex Inlet Horse Rehabilitation Centre, Ms Clarke is not qualified in veterinary science and does not have the correct facts. She cannot declare that the Hendra vaccine has “…links to infertility, hair loss, massive lumps and major behavioural changes in some horses and even death.” Nor to say: “It (the vaccine) seems to be attacking the immune system.” Ms Clarke has no proof that there are links to infertility, death or attacks to the immune system in horses as a result of the vaccine. Once again, this is incorrect. 

Your article states that: “Ms Vicki Roycroft told ABC this year the potential threat of the disease spreading to humans was exaggerated.” Your readers need to know that the exposure risk to Hendra virus is genuine and real. In 2014 alone, after exposure to Hendra virus cases, six people were deemed to be sufficiently at risk of becoming infected with the deadly disease that the Queensland Department of Health administered the most advanced anti-viral treatment available to these people. The treatment was a course of mono-clonal antibodies. This is a most serious decision, and is not taken lightly by the state’s health authority.

Your article states that a social group ‘Say No to Hendra’ has 3000 members. It needs to be recognised that over 110,000 horses have now been fully, and satisfactorily vaccinated with the Hendra vaccine.

The group who wish to “Say no” represent a tiny minority, less than 3 per cent, and should not be regarded as the authoritative experts on this matter. 

Anti-vaccinationists exist in all walks of life. The US is currently experiencing deaths in a human epidemic of measles. This epidemic could have been avoided if the people infected had been vaccinated with a safe and effective measles vaccine, and not been misled by ill-informed anti-vaccinationists. 

I also add that just as when a human is given a vaccine injection, your arm may become swollen for a day or so. It is no different in a horse, where after a Hendra vaccination, the horse’s neck may become slightly swollen at the injection site for a few days. This is normal and is not considered to be an adverse reaction. There is nothing wrong and the swelling quickly subsides.

Horse owners should consult their equine veterinarian if they have any concerns about vaccination. They should listen to the experts and not risk making poor decisions, based on rumours and misinformation.

Dr N. Anthony,

President,

Equine Veterinarians Australia.