MERCK MANUAL

Veterinary Manual
Veterinary / Poultry / Nutrition and Management: Poultry

Vaccination Programs in
Poultry
By Bruce Stewart-Brown, DVM, DACPV, Senior Vice President of Food Safety,
Quality, and Live Operations, Perdue Farms

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

Turkey herpesvirus and SB-1 or Rispens strain for high-

Marek’s diseaseb 1 day SC
challenge areas

Newcastle disease 1 day or Coarse spray B1

Water or coarse
14–21 days B1 or LaSota
spray

Infectious bronchitis 1 day or Coarse spray Massachusetts

Water or coarse
14–21 days Massachusetts
spray

Infectious bursal
14–21 days Water Intermediate
disease

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

Parenteral or Inactivated
10–12 wk Fowl cholera
Wing web Live CU, PM-1, or M9

12–14 wk Newcastle/infectious bronchitis Water or aerosol B1 or LaSota/Mass

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.
Age Vaccine Route Type

14–18 wk Fowl cholera Parenteral or Inactivated

Wing web 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

Newcastle/infectious bronchitis Parenteral Inactivated
18 wk

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 gallisepticumb 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

Newcastle/infectious bronchitis Parenteral Inactivated
18 wk

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
Market Turkeys Breeder Hens Breeder Toms
(wk)b

NDc B1-B1d or LaSota,

2–3 ND, B1-B1 or LaSota, DW or spray ND, B1-B1 or LaSota, DW or spray
DWe or spray

Hemorrhagic enteritis,
4 Hemorrhagic enteritis, DW Hemorrhagic enteritis, DW
DW

Fowl cholera,f DW Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC

6 (live) or SC (inactivated) (inactivated)
(inactivated)

ND, LaSota, DW or
9–10 ND, LaSota, DW or spray ND, LaSota, DW or spray
spray

Fowl cholera, DW
Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC
12 (live) or SC
(inactivated) (inactivated)
(inactivated)

ND, LaSota, DW or
15 ND, LaSota, DW or spray ND, LaSota, DW or spray
spray

Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC

18 —
(inactivated) (inactivated)

21 — ND, LaSota, DW or spray ND, LaSota, DW or spray

Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC Fowl cholera, DW (live) or SC

24 —
(inactivated) (inactivated)

Erysipelas, DW (live) or SC (inactivated) Erysipelas, DW (live) or SC (inactivated)

26 —
Pox, WWe Pox, WW

ND, SC (inactivated) Fowl cholera, DW ND, SC (inactivated) Fowl cholera, DW

28 — (live) or SC (inactivated) (live) or SC (inactivated)
Encephalomyelitis, DW 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.
Age
Market Turkeys Breeder Hens Breeder Toms
(wk)b

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 vaccinea

10–14 days R anatipestifer Drinking water Live vaccinea

3 wk R anatipestifer SC Bacterinb

4 wk Duck viral hepatitis SC Live vaccinec (Type 1)

4 wk Duck viral enteritis SC Live vaccinec

10 and 20 wkd R anatipestifer SC Bacterinb

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 vaccinea

10–14 days R anatipestifer Drinking water Live vaccinea

3 wk R anatipestifer SC Bacterinb

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.

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