UHVRC Application Deadline for Spring Vaccines Approaching

Equine rescue and retirement facilities must apply by Feb. 1 for a chance to receive free vaccines

The application deadline to receive donated vaccines through the Unwanted Horse Veterinary Relief Campaign (UHVRC) is Feb. 1, 2011. Through this program, qualifying equine rescue and retirement facilities are provided with all American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)-recommended core vaccines to protect against eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE), western equine encephalomyelitis (WEE), rabies, tetanus and West Nile virus, as well as equine influenza and equine herpesvirus.

To qualify for donated vaccines, facilities must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, follow the AAEP Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities, and work with an AAEP-member veterinarian to submit an application. Click here to download the application. Applicants can apply for donated vaccines once per year – to receive spring or fall vaccine shipments – and must reapply each year. All vaccine shipments will be sent directly to the AAEP-member veterinarian who supported the facility’s application.

To date, more than 6,000 horses in rescue have received life-saving vaccines through the UHVRC, which is co-sponsored by the AAEP and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Since the program’s inception in December 2008, a portion of all Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health equine vaccine sales has gone to support the UHVRC. To learn more about the UHVRC, visit www.uhvrc.org, www.facebook.com/unwantedhorse andwww.twitter.com/unwantedhorse.

About AAEP

The American Association of Equine Practitioners, headquartered in Lexington, Ky., was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of the horse. Currently, the AAEP reaches more than 5 million horse owners through its nearly 10,000 members worldwide and is actively involved in ethics issues, practice management, research and continuing education in the equine veterinary profession and horse industry.

About Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health

Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, based in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, is focused on the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of animal health products. The company offers customers one of the broadest, most innovative animal health portfolios, spanning products to support performance and to prevent, treat and control disease in all major farm and companion animal species. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health; subsidiaries of Merck & Co. Inc., Whitehouse Station NJ, USA. For more information, visit www.intervet.com.

About Merck

Today’s Merck is working to help the world be well. Through our medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and consumer and animal products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching programs that donate and deliver our products to the people who need them. Merck. Be Well. For more information, visit www.merck.com.

Media contact: Susan Wright – 816.410.5158, wrights@osborn-barr.com .