Heptavac P Plus Suspension for Injection for Sheep

Syringes and needles should be sterile before use and the injection should be made
through an area of clean, dry skin taking precautions against contamination. All
breeding sheep not previously vaccinated with this vaccine must receive two
injections, each of 2.0 ml, separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks. Thereafter they
must receive booster injections at intervals of not more than 12 months. In adult
breeding ewes these yearly booster injections should be given during the pre-
lambing period, 4-6 weeks pre-lambing, as an aid in control of disease in their lambs.
On farms where the incidence of pasteurellosis is high, a supplementary booster
injection using a Pasteurella vaccine may be required 2-3 weeks prior to expected
seasonal outbreaks.
This vaccine should not be used in lambs less than 3 weeks of age due to the
possible immunological incompetence of the very young lamb and competition from
any maternally derived colostral antibodies. Lambs being retained for fattening or
subsequent breeding will require a full course of vaccination. At a minimum age of 3
weeks these lambs should receive two injections, each of 2.0 ml, separated by an
interval of 4-6 weeks. It should be noted that this vaccine is the recommended
vaccine for breeding stock since it provides optimal aid in the control of the
predominant clostridial diseases in adult sheep by active immunisation and in young
lambs by passive immunisation.
The vaccine bottle must be shaken well before use. The use of automatic vaccination
equipment is recommended. Since the bottle is non-collapsible, a vaccinator with a
vented draw-off spike or similar device must be used. The instructions supplied with
such equipment should be noted and care should be taken to ensure the delivery of
the full dose, particularly with the final few doses from the bottle. Strict precautions
should be taken against contamination of the vaccine. A fresh sterile needle must be
used each time the rubber cap is punctured, to avoid contamination of the remaining
contents. Syringes and needles must be from gamma irradiated packs or freshly
sterilised by boiling for at least 20 minutes.
This vaccine has been developed following research and development which
resulted in the application of Plus ‘IRP’ technology for the manufacture of the
Pasteurella/Mannheimia components of this vaccine. The inclusion of these IRP
components should provide enhanced efficacy and cross protection e.g. protection
against serotype A12, which is not included in the vaccine, has been demonstrated.
Studies on the response of sheep to this vaccine show that two injections separated
by an interval of 4-6 weeks are required to gain the full benefit of the ‘IRP’.