Use of vaccines in sheep

Latest figures on the uptake of sheep vaccinations across the UK between 2012 and 2023.

Summary points for sheep vaccines

Vaccine sales

Many factors contribute to fluctuations in vaccine sales, including changes in the dose regimes along with manufacturing and supply issues. Sales from wholesalers do not necessarily equate to use in that year. However, it is still useful in estimating the likely level of protection in the target group. 

The total number of sheep vaccine doses sold, increased by 13.9% between 2012 and 2022. This dropped in 2023, with a 3.4% increase compared to 2012. In 2023, 37.1 million sheep vaccine doses were sold in 2023.

The number of doses of footrot vaccines sold annually rose by 64.9% between 2012 and 2023. The uptake for Toxoplasma rose by 11.7% and for EAE rose by 6.6% between 2012 and 2023.

Back to: Vaccine uptake report for cattle and sheep

Table 1. Uptake of vaccination (%) for sheep in the UK between 2012–2023

	2012	2013	2014	2020	2021	2022	2023
Total sheep and lambs	32,214,916	32,856,476	33,743,346	32,697,441	32,957,022	33,066,478	31,802,536
Clostridial vaccine	60%	50%	51%	57%	63%	65%	60%
Pasteurellosis vaccine	46%	39%	39%	46%	51%	52%	48%

Total breeding flock 1 year and over	15,229,456	15,561,296	16,026,113	15,369,528	15,624,233	15,779,210	15,437,826
Ewes intended for further breeding and for slaughter	12,798,594	12,997,571	13,514,783	12,817,226	13,018,696	13,037,829	12,859,785
Toxoplasma vaccine	26%	22%	23%	31%	31%	20%	29%
EAE vaccines	44%	33%	38%	50%	50%	44%	46%

Total breeding flock 1 year and over	15,229,456	15,561,296	16,026,113	15,369,528	15,624,233	15,779,210	15,437,826
Rams	391,907	432,222	417,435	392,741	402,288	389,503	387,438
% sheep vaccinated for Footrot	11%	10%	11%	16%	19%	16%	18%

Total doses of vaccine sold	32,582,366	27,627,327	29,473,631	32,989,535	36,681,012	37,105,234	33,681,225

Vaccine use analysis

The analysis includes no estimates about how effectively these vaccines are administered in sheep.  

Alongside other management interventions, the use of vaccinations is an important measure to maintain a healthy national flock, prevent disease and use antibiotics responsibly.

With this in mind, it is reassuring that enzootic abortion vaccinations uptake have increased since 2022. Following a supply chain issue in 2022, uptake of toxoplasmosis vaccines appear to have recovered. In addition to a small increase of 2% in footrot vaccinations compared to the previous year.

Uptake has decreased for clostridial (-5%) and pasteurella vaccinations (-4%), which can be attributed to supply chain issues.

Clostridial vaccines in sheep

Clostridial disease is the most common cause of sudden death of all ages of sheep in the UK. Cheap and highly effective multivalent vaccines are available.

Find out about clostridial vaccines

Pasteurellosis vaccines in sheep

Pasteurellosis is one of the most common causes of death in growing lambs in Great Britain, despite there being effective vaccines that offer protection against disease.

Abortion vaccines in sheep

The control of enzootic abortion was identified as one of three hotspot areas for the reduction of antibiotics in the sheep industry. There are effective abortion vaccines for the three main infectious causes of abortion; the use of these should be discussed with your vet.

More information on abortion vaccines

Lameness vaccines in sheep

Lameness in sheep flocks is one of the most common and persistent disease problems, with scald, footrot (caused by Dichelobacter nodosus) and contagious ovine digital dermatitis (caused by treponemes) being common infectious causes.

Find out more about lameness vaccines

Useful links

Identify, treat and prevent lameness in your flock

Reducing lameness for better returns

Sheep diseases directory

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Beef & Lamb

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vaccines sheep