To all licensed persons and other stakeholders,
This notice addresses the current availability of the AHS vaccines as well as the eligibility of horses to compete in 2024.
The AHS vaccination window period is between 1 June and 31 October every year. However, due to the persistent AHS vaccination shortage, the NHA has extended the window period for horses resident in the AHS Infected Zone to 31 December 2023.
A meeting between the NHA and the SAEVA racing sub-committee on Friday 24th November revealed there are sufficient vaccines to adequately vaccinate all horses in training. Therefore only horses with at least one valid AHS set (bottle I and bottle II) for 2022 or 2023 will be permitted entry to the security area to race, effective 1st January 2024. Both bottles must be given in the same year (either 2022 or 2023). This does not apply to horses racing in Cape Town.
We encourage you to discuss this matter with your private veterinarian, and should you have any doubts, please don't hesitate to contact the NHA Veterinary Department.