Horse owners have launched a $53 million law suit against the pharmaceutical company responsible for developing the Hendra vaccine.
The owners, from New South Wales and Queensland, are claiming that Zoetis Australia PTY LTD did not provide adequate warnings about the potential side effects of the vaccine on their horses.
Half a million doses have been administered to horses across Australia since 2012.
About 1,500 horses have experienced adverse reactions and have not been able to return to their regular work.
The barrister instructed by LHD Lawyers, John Rowe, said Zoetis failed to inform horse owners of the potential side effects and have breached the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act by failing to properly trial and test the vaccine before its release.
"The reality is the vets that administered the vaccination initially didn't give the owners any warning at all," Mr Rowe said.
"Many of the horse owners would not have agreed to the inoculation had they been warned of the possible side effects."
Class action a risk: company
Damages are being sought for any individual horse owner whose horse was effected by the vaccine resulting in death or loss of use.
Michael Hyland, special counsel for LHD Lawyers, says the owners that are part of the class action had suffered significantly.
"It's had a profound impact on the horse owners and it's something they are struggling to come to terms with," Mr Hyland said.
Zoetis has issued a statement saying the vaccine wass "safe and effective" and "no vaccinated horse has contracted the Hendra virus".
The company said it has not been notified of a claim and a class action would put people and animals at risk.
"Attacks on vaccination have the potential to put the lives of vets, the horse owning public and horses at risk," a spokesperson said.
The Hendra virus has killed 103 horses and four people across 60 separate outbreaks in QLD and NSW.
