[Daleswoman]

I know the guidance is to give lambs their initial dose of Heptavac at 4-6 weeks old, but how strict is this timeframe? I assume the 6 week limit is so that the vaccine takes over as the immunity from the ewe diminishes, but am wondering if I could do my older lambs a bit later, and the youngest ones a bit sooner than 4 weeks?

The reason is, I've got 2 lambs that are already 5 weeks old and 3 ewes not lambed yet ... was hoping to get away with buying one 50ml bottle this year to do the lot (am expecting to have 20 lambs by the time they've all finished). So assuming the last 3 lamb this week, by the time they are 4 weeks old the older ones will be 9 weeks; or could I do the youngest ones at 3 weeks and the oldest at 8 weeks ...

Or should I just give a big sigh and resign myself to buying 2 bottles of vaccine?

Just thinking aloud really - and wondering how others  have dealt with this issue? 

[suziequeue]

I don't think you would necessarily need to buy two bottles of vaccine for the first dose. As long as you cover the top with cling film and keep the "open" bottle refrigerated then you can use it again for the younger lambs. The problem with vaccinating too young is that the immune system may not be mature enough to make a good immune response and - as you have already alluded to - the problem with leaving it too late is that the passive immunity from Mum will have waned - exposing the lamb to risk of infection.

My advice? - divide the lambs into two or three age batches to vaccinate within the prescribed timeframe and keep the bottle sealed in the fridge between batches.

You may have to buy another bottle for the seocond dose.

[Backinwellies]

Most of us have similar problem.  I've investigated.... youngest must be 3 weeks which means my oldest will be about 7 weeks ... I'm only buying 1 bottle for the first dose to all.

I would never store Heptovac.

[Daleswoman]

Thanks Backinwellies, I've just been reading up about it (again!) and it says minimum age is 3 weeks, am getting confused I think with the second dose being 4-6 weeks later. SO if the youngest are 3 weeks the oldest will be about 9 weeks, which I think is fine. They are all strong sturdy lambs so far this year, which I hope means they will have good resistance to any infection.

You're supposed to use Heptavac within a few hours of opening, and not store it - I think it loses its efficacy once it's been opened - hence the problem when you've only got a few sheep, and hence the offers / appeals to share a bottle.

[Bionic]

We haven't lambed this year but in previous years I have done the same as Backinwellies.

I also wouldn't store Hepvac.

There have been lots of threads on here about it previously but why buy something to protect them and then not follow the manufactures guidelines.

[twizzel]

We are giving first dose of heptavac to our tame lambs this week- one group are 5 weeks old and the other are about 11 weeks old.

[Daleswoman]

Thanks for all the replies, it's reassuring to know that others are planning to do the same as me!

[mowhaugh]

I also wouldn't store Heptavac. If you do them older, there is no problem with vaccinating them, just that you have a window when they are more vulnerable to disease. It's perfectly possible to start adult sheep into the Heptavac system, we did this last year with 600 ewes we took on on a shepherding contract. I think the best fit option for you would be to wait until your youngest lambs are 3 weeks, and do them all then, unless you can find somone in a similar situation to yourself to share a bottle with to do them in two batches.

[harmony]

My advice? - divide the lambs into two or three age batches to vaccinate within the prescribed timeframe and keep the bottle sealed in the fridge between batches.

No disrespect to anyone but the guidelines say after 10 hours it won't work. This is the claim of the manufacturer who will have to be able to back up that up with evidence. Why spend your money on something to do the best by your livestock and not follow the guidelines on use?


Nowhere does it say cling film and refrigeration will keep the vaccine in tact.

[Womble]

Indeed, but equally many people *do* keep a sealed bottle in the fridge, having withdrawn the doses using only clean needles, and indeed that's what my vet told me he would do if he were me. He isn't me though, so I bought two bottles! 

So, it's as well to be aware of this as an option, but one that has potential drawbacks (the later doses may be ineffective, and you won't know that until your lambs start dying of clostridial diseases). It's for each of us to weigh up the risks vs the cost saving though, and to make our own decision.

[Foobar]

I would say try to avoid the cling film approach wherever possible.  Sometimes its unavoidable though if you have just one or two animals to do at a later date.
For my lambs as other have suggested, I wait until the youngest is 3 weeks old then do them all in one go.  Also saves you having to gather them for a second time.

[suziequeue]

Sorry - when I mentioned "between batches" I didn't mean between the four week and the eight week dose.....

[harmony]

Indeed, but equally many people *do* keep a sealed bottle in the fridge, having withdrawn the doses using only clean needles, and indeed that's what my vet told me he would do if he were me. He isn't me though, so I bought two bottles! 

So, it's as well to be aware of this as an option, but one that has potential drawbacks (the later doses may be ineffective, and you won't know that until your lambs start dying of clostridial diseases). It's for each of us to weigh up the risks vs the cost saving though, and to make our own decision.

I don't consider it an option at all. I can't understand why a vet would tell you this. If they believe the manufacturer is giving misinformation then as a professional they should take the matter further.


If you want to save money then don't vaccinate at all because unless you are vaccinating everything and doing a proper job surely you are wasting your money anyway?

[Liz Kershaw]

I know this is an old thread but I was doing some searching for Heptavac timescales and came across it ... just to add to the storage debate: I would never store Heptavac either so when I offered the remaining 23 doses in the bottle to a neighbour for their lambs  (free of charge), I rushed it over to him the moment I'd done my two. He stored it in the fridge, but couldn't do his until 3 days later. The following morning after the vaccination, one of his (fine before the vaccine) had died. I am now feeling obscurely guilty  - although it could have been cooincidence) but it's certainly put me off any idea of storing it, or going against any manufacturer's instructions.

[Bionic]

I know this is an old thread but I was doing some searching for Heptavac timescales and came across it ... just to add to the storage debate: I would never store Heptavac either so when I offered the remaining 23 doses in the bottle to a neighbour for their lambs  (free of charge), I rushed it over to him the moment I'd done my two. He stored it in the fridge, but couldn't do his until 3 days later. The following morning after the vaccination, one of his (fine before the vaccine) had died. I am now feeling obscurely guilty  - although it could have been cooincidence) but it's certainly put me off any idea of storing it, or going against any manufacturer's instructions.

Liz, there is no need for you to feel guilty.
You did what you needed to do and gave it to your neighbour in a timely manner. It was their choice to save it for 3 days.
Actually I doubt the sheep died because the vaccine was stored for 3 days. As far as I have understood Hepvac is quite hard on the animals and the same would probably have happened if the sheep had had their dose immediately after the bottle was opened.