West Nile Virus Vaccine

Q. Is there a vaccine available to protect humans from West Nile virus?

A. No. Currently there is no WNV vaccine available for humans. Many scientists are working on this issue, and there is hope that a vaccine will become available in the next few years.

Q. Should people take the West Nile virus vaccine that is licensed for use in horses?

A. No. This vaccine has not been studied in humans and could be harmful. The effectiveness of this vaccine in preventing West Nile virus infections in horses has yet to be fully evaluated, and its effectiveness in humans is completely unknown. Veterinary vaccines are not manufactured with the same rigorous quality and purity standards required of human vaccines, nor are they required to undergo the extensive field testing required of human vaccines before they are licensed. For these reasons, veterinary vaccines and other veterinary drugs should never be used in humans.