Vaccination Programs in Poultry

Bruce Stewart-Brown

, DVM, DACPV, Perdue Farms

Last full review/revision May 2015 | Content last modified May 2015

Topic Resources

Vaccination Program for Broilers ^a

Vaccination Program for Broiler Breeders ^a

Vaccination Program for Commercial Layers ^a

Vaccination Program for Turkeys ^a

Vaccination Program for Duck Breeders

Vaccination Program for Commercial Ducklings

See the following tables for recommended vaccination programs for broilers, broiler-breeders, commercial layers, turkeys, duck breeders, and commercial ducklings.

Vaccination Program for Broilers ^a

Vaccine	Age	Route	Type
Marek’s disease^b	1 day	SC	Turkey herpesvirus and SB-1 or Rispens strain for high-challenge areas
Newcastle disease	1 day or	Coarse spray	B1
	14–21 days	Water or coarse spray	B1 or LaSota
Infectious bronchitis	1 day or	Coarse spray	Massachusetts
	14–21 days	Water or coarse spray	Massachusetts
Infectious bursal disease	14–21 days	Water	Intermediate
^a This is an example of a typical vaccination program. Individual programs are highly variable and reflect local conditions, disease prevalence, severity of challenge, and individual preferences.
^b Most USA commercial broiler hatcheries use an in ovo vaccination system for Marek’s disease at 17–19 days of embryonation. Infectious bursal disease vaccine (mild strain) may be combined with Marek’s disease vaccines. Vectored vaccines in which Marek's and fowlpox vaccines have been safely modified to carry immunizing antigens for laryngotracheitis, Newcastle disease, or infectious bursal disease are also commonly used in ovo or day-old chicks. Connecticut strain is often combined with Massachusetts. Bronchitis vaccine is usually combined with Newcastle. Other bronchitis strains such as Arkansas 99 and Florida 88 are included in some areas. Vaccinations at 14–21 days are optional. A single drinking water application for Newcastle disease/bronchitis is also common.

Vaccination Program for Broiler Breeders ^a

Age	Vaccine	Route	Type
1 day	Marek’s disease	SC	Turkey herpesvirus
6–7 days	Tenosynovitis	SC	Live (Mild)
14–21 days	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water	B1/Mass
14–28 days	Infectious bursal disease	Water	Intermediate
4 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or coarse spray	B1/Mass
6–8 wk	Tenosynovitis	SC	Live (Mild)
8–10 wk	Infectious bursal disease	Water or coarse spray	Live
8–10 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or coarse spray	B1 or LaSota/Mass
10–12 wk	Encephalomyelitis	Wing web	Live, chick-embryo origin
10–12 wk	Fowlpox	Wing web	Modified live
10–12 wk	Chicken infectious anemia	Wing web	Modified live
10–12 wk	Laryngotracheitis	Intraocular	Modified live
10–12 wk	Tenosynovitis	Parenteral	Inactivated
10–12 wk	Fowl cholera	Parenteral or Wing web	Inactivated Live CU, PM-1, or M9
12–14 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or aerosol	B1 or LaSota/Mass
14–18 wk	Fowl cholera	Parenteral or Wing web	Inactivated Live CU, PM-1, or M9
16–18 wk	Infectious bursal disease	Parenteral	Inactivated
16–18 wk	Tenosynovitis	Parenteral	Inactivated
16–18 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or aerosol	B1 or LaSota/Mass
Every 60–90 days or 18 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Parenteral	Inactivated
^a This is an example of a vaccination program. Individual programs are highly variable and reflect local conditions, disease prevalence, severity of challenge, and individual preferences. SB-1, MDV301, or Rispens strain may be combined with turkey herpesvirus in some areas. Vaccination for fowlpox and laryngotracheitis depends on local requirements. Other strains of infectious bronchitis (Connecticut, Arkansas 99, Florida 88, etc) are included in some areas.

Vaccination Program for Commercial Layers ^a

Age	Vaccine	Route	Type
1 day	Marek’s disease	SC	Turkey herpesvirus and SB-1
14 –21 days	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water	B1/Mass
14–21 days	Infectious bursal disease	Water	Intermediate
5 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or coarse spray	B1/Mass
8–10 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or coarse spray	B1 or LaSota/Mass
10–12 wk	Encephalomyelitis	Wing web	Live, chick-embryo origin
10–12 wk	Fowlpox	Wing web	Modified live
10–12 wk	Laryngotracheitis	Intraocular	Modified live
10–14 wk	Mycoplasma gallisepticum^b	Intraocular or spray	Mild live strain
or 18 wk		Parenteral	Inactivated
12–14 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or aerosol	B1 or LaSota/Mass
16–18 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Water or aerosol	B1 or LaSota/Mass
Every 60–90 days or 18 wk	Newcastle/infectious bronchitis	Parenteral	Inactivated
^a This is an example of a vaccination program. Individual programs are highly variable and reflect local conditions, disease prevalence, severity of challenge, and individual preferences.
^b The use of M gallisepticum vaccine is regulated or prohibited in some states. SB-1 or MDV301 may be combined with turkey herpesvirus in some areas, or Rispens strain may be used in high-challenge areas. Vaccination for infectious bursal disease, laryngotracheitis, and fowlpox depends on local requirements. Other strains of infectious bronchitis (Connecticut, Arkansas 99, Florida 88, etc) are included in some areas. M gallisepticum and Haemophilus gallinarum (coryza) are used only on infected, multiage premises in some areas.

Vaccination Program for Turkeys ^a

Age (wk)^b	Market Turkeys	Breeder Hens	Breeder Toms
2–3	ND^c B1-B1^d or LaSota, DW^e or spray	ND, B1-B1 or LaSota, DW or spray	ND, B1-B1 or LaSota, DW or spray
4	Hemorrhagic enteritis, DW	Hemorrhagic enteritis, DW	Hemorrhagic enteritis, DW
6	Fowl cholera,^f DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)
9–10	ND, LaSota, DW or spray	ND, LaSota, DW or spray	ND, LaSota, DW or spray
12	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)
15	ND, LaSota, DW or spray	ND, LaSota, DW or spray	ND, LaSota, DW or spray
18	—	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)
21	—	ND, LaSota, DW or spray	ND, LaSota, DW or spray
24	—	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)	Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)
26	—	Erysipelas, DW (live) or SC (inactivated) Pox, WW^e	Erysipelas, DW (live) or SC (inactivated) Pox, WW
28	—	ND, SC (inactivated) Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated) Encephalomyelitis, DW	ND, SC (inactivated) Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC (inactivated) Encephalomyelitis, DW
^a Recommendations are for production areas where the diseases listed are common. In addition, other vaccinations may be advisable if previous experience indicates prevalence of certain diseases in the area. These may include turkey bordetellosis eye drop vaccine at 1 day old and in water or spray at 14 days old, or bacterin; paramyxovirus 3 and influenza A (prevalent hemagglutinin) at 26–28 and 40 wk old; erysipelas—live or killed products might be required for market turkeys, and repeated vaccinations might be required for breeders; and salmonellosis bacterins at 24 and 28 wk old.
^b Recommended age at vaccination is an approximation.
^c ND = Newcastle disease
^d Spray ND vaccines should not be used for birds suffering from respiratory disease; in such cases and at that age, the mild B1-B1 strain vaccine could be used in water. Timing of vaccination depends on maternal antibody levels.
^e DW = drinking water; WW = wing web stab
^f Live fowl cholera vaccines should be used only in healthy flocks.

Vaccination Program for Duck Breeders

Age	Vaccine	Route	Type
1 day old	Riemerella anatipestifer	Aerosol	Live vaccine^a
10–14 days	R anatipestifer	Drinking water	Live vaccine^a
3 wk	R anatipestifer	SC	Bacterin^b
4 wk	Duck viral hepatitis	SC	Live vaccine^c (Type 1)
4 wk	Duck viral enteritis	SC	Live vaccine^c
10 and 20 wk^d	R anatipestifer	SC	Bacterin^b
10 and 20 wk	Duck viral hepatitis	SC	Killed virus vaccine (Type 1)
^a A live, avirulent vaccine consisting of the three major serotypes (1, 2, and 5) of R anatipestifer
^b A formalin-inactivated cell suspension of the three major serotypes (1, 2, and 5) of R anatipestifer. Bacterins and killed virus vaccines are administered SC in the neck.
^c A modified-live virus vaccine of chick embryo origin.
^d White Pekin breeder ducks normally start egg production at 24 wk of age. Egg production can be accelerated or delayed and breeder vaccination should be completed before the onset of egg production to optimize the passage of parental immunity to the progeny.

Vaccination Program for Commercial Ducklings

Age	Vaccine	Route	Type
1 day old	Riemerella anatipestifer	Aerosol	Live vaccine^a
10–14 days	R anatipestifer	Drinking water	Live vaccine^a
3 wk	R anatipestifer	SC	Bacterin^b
^a A live, avirulent vaccine consisting of the three major serotypes (1, 2, and 5) of R anatipestifer
^b A formalin-inactivated cell suspension of the three major serotypes (1, 2, and 5) of R anatipestifer is recommended for preventive immunization on farms where the disease is endemic or epidemic. An Escherichia coli bacterin can also be used where field challenge warrants. Ducklings should not be vaccinated within 21 days of slaughter.

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

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Vaccination Programs in Poultry

Vaccination Program for Broilers ^a

Vaccination Program for Broiler Breeders ^a

Vaccination Program for Commercial Layers ^a

Vaccination Program for Turkeys ^a

Vaccination Program for Duck Breeders

Vaccination Program for Commercial Ducklings

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MSD and the MSD Veterinary Manual

MSD Manual

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OTHER TOPICS IN THIS CHAPTER

ADDITIONAL CONTENT

Test your knowledge

More Content

Vaccination Programs in Poultry

Vaccination Program for Broilers a

Vaccination Program for Broiler Breeders a

Vaccination Program for Commercial Layers a

Vaccination Program for Turkeys a

Vaccination Program for Duck Breeders

Vaccination Program for Commercial Ducklings

Was This Page Helpful?

MSD and the MSD Veterinary Manual

Vaccination Program for Broilers ^a

Vaccination Program for Broiler Breeders ^a

Vaccination Program for Commercial Layers ^a

Vaccination Program for Turkeys ^a