Vaccination has its benefits. Tetanus, present in most soils, is a horrible death. Depending on your area, there are other things sheep can catch, even in a closed flock. I don't vaccinate anymore, but I do recommend it for beginners. It is also very useful for those who don't interact with their sheep on a daily basis or who have a large flock. There are lots of reasons to vaccinate. In the end, it's up to the choice of the shepheard.
Different vaccines have different
schedules. Most of the time, it is recommended to give the annual booster shot to the pregnant ewe so that the antibodies can pass to the lambs via the
milk, then vaccinate the lambs once they reach a certain age. Alternatively, one can vaccinate the lambs. Most vaccines need two shots, so many weeks apart. Without that second shot, the vaccine is pretty much useless. Most vaccines also need an annual booster to stay effective.
Which vaccine is right for you? It depends mostly on where you are and what diseases are prevalent in your area. A good vet
should know this. It helps to have a sheep guru (or three) who has
experience with raising sheep in your area.
If the lambs are for the freezer, a lot of people won't bother with the vaccination. Again, that depends on the shepherd and what the
local diseases are.
Why don't I vaccinate anymore? Lots of little reasons but the one that really struck home is that one ewe had a major reaction to a tetanus vaccine. Apparently it can happen. It was pretty darn nasty and I don't want that to happen again. My flock is right outside my window and I check on them several times a day, so I can usually catch any change in behaviour early
enough to fix it.
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