[moprabbit]

Just bought some Heptavac p plus and read the leaflet. It states it has to be used within 10 hours of opening. Just wondered how critical is it? If vaccinating for the first time, they then need to be done again 4 - 6 weeks later. I've only got 4 sheep seems very expensive if I've got to buy another bottle. I wondered if I could actually store the opened vaccine and use again in 4 weeks time?
Thanks

[Anke]

If you check under Lambivac / Heptavac in the goat section, some solutions to this problem were discussed a while back.

[colliewoman]

Personally for me, having lost a good beast who had been vaccinated properly I wouldn't risk the chance of a vaccine fail by using any that had been exposed to the air more than 10 hours.
Yes a bottle cost £20 but my dead wether cost me an awful lot more with vet bills and the knacker man's fee.
But I do tend to be Mrs doom and gloom now on this subject

[twizzel]

We wrapped ours in cling film and foil tightly and stored in the fridge, was fine...

[SteveHants]

I have been known to fridge vaccines too.

[Foobar]

I  with colliewoman. This is something that you are relying on to work, so abide by the instructions on the label - keep refrigerated at all times and use within the time allowed. I know some people say they have got away with keeping it longer but I think in the large majority of cases you won't have a problem anyway so you won't know that the vaccine didn't work. I wouldn't risk it.
Also shop around, get the best price you can - I think the best price I could get it for was £19. Alternatively, find someone to share it with.

[Auld Cairnallochy]

Underestimated the amount required this year and went to vet who gave me a bottle that had already had some doses withdrawn and it appeared to work OK. So as it isa dead virus you are injecting I would withdraw by syringe a couple of doses more than you need when you need them cover the botle in cling film and use again when required. Cleanliness is of course paramount and I feel the 10 hour rule is just to make sure it is kept within acceptable temperatures.

[Anke]

These vaccines are developed to be used in a field/barn situation and the manufacturer has to state a time frame so that they cannot be sued....
 
If you use a single sterile needle, withdraw into the syringe and then keeep the initial needle in the bottle for next dose etc etc, do all your four doses into different syringes in your house before being in the field, them immediatey place tape over bottle and put back into fridge... better still if you plan longterm and get an injection gun, store that with bottle connected in the fridge... obviously no guarantees that is doesn't fail, but to be honest you never have that...
 
If you calculate the risk for 4 sheep over a period of a coupe of years... that's quite a few bottles at 20odd quid a go.

[Hillview Farm]

Personally I dont think its worth the risk. Its not just your ewes your protecting but also the lambs in the first few weeks passed in the milk. If your ewes cost anything like mine, it would hit my pocket pretty hard for the sake of 40 quid, only a tenner per head and giving the lambs the best start its got to be worth doing it correctly.

[Rosemary]

If you amend the post to say where you are, there might be someone on here who will be willing to share. that's what we did when we had three ewes 

[agri293]

The most important thing when working with medicines is storage anything that has been pierced with a needle will let air in so when you do store it always wrap your bottles in cling film as to stop the air getting in

[Herdygirl]

If you amend the post to say where you are, there might be someone on here who will be willing to share. that's what we did when we had three ewes 

Thats a good idea of Rosemary's.... sharing vaccines,we sahre other stuff as well,wormers etc

[MarvinH]

When I had my first 5,  the vet made up five individual doses/syringes think it cost me now more than £6
Now I buy a small bottle and then clingfilm and fridge.

[moprabbit]

Thanks for all your replies. I've now found someone to share the vaccine with, so that's good. I agree that actually it's just not worth the risk when you're trying to protect your sheep.