Stay Awesome
Rabies (my personal favourite vaccine)
Find most of the information you need in these resources
Always refer to your local signed PGD's in practice, and remember the Green Book takes priority over the SPmC - and sometimes WHO takes priority over the Green Book! They don't always say the same!
Other useful links and further reading:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2024/infections-diseases/rabies
Rabies post-exposure treatment: management guidelines: A practical guide to undertaking a risk assessment of potential rabies exposures and the correct use of post-exposure treatment (PET)
Animal bites - some gruesome pics - beware!
This was a revealing observational study published in TMAID in 2024, which really makes one think about the importance of rabies advice. It's a good read: Rabies knowledge gaps and risk behaviour in Dutch travellers: An observational cohort study
This free webinar from the ISTM is a good watch Rabies in Travelers: Deadly but Preventable and this is available on the ISTM YouTube channel (9th October 2024)
Very enlightening survey concluding that awareness and perception of rabies risk, and lack of consistent HCP discussion of the need for rabies PrEP may be major barriers to uptake of the vaccine for patients who are eligible to receive it.
Recent Updates & News
3rd Feb 2025: Rabies post-exposure risk management forms updated - added information on Zimbabwean rabies vaccine alert. See the related NaTHNaC advice here.
22nd Jan 2025: The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe announced that falsified rabies vaccine is circulating through unauthorised sources in Zimbabwe. They report this falsified product poses a significant threat to public health due to the possibility of lack of efficacy, harmful components and the risk of treatment failure in preventing rabies, a fatal disease.
1st Jan 2025: With effect from 1st January 2025, the responsibility for the marketing and distribution of Rabipur transitions from Valneva to Bavarian Nordic, in partnership with Polar Speed Distribution. I wonder if this means there may be some shortages of rabies vaccines ahead as often is the case when transitions are happening...
14th Dec 2024: Another sad and preventable rabies death. 27-Year-Old Man Dies Of Rabies After Stray Dog And Cat Bites In Kalyan; Delayed Vaccine Blamed
12th Nov 2024: A couple of branding changes to some UKHSA docs: Rabies risk for travellers leaflet and the bat leaflet.
4th October 2024: Another very sad (and likely preventable) death: Canadian child dies from rabies after bat found in bedroom. And here's another death 2 months after a bat contact in Minnesota at the end of September: Minnesota reports rare human death from rabies.
AUGUST 2024: Worth looking at this advice about rabipur reconstitution before ordering in the supplies THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER AGAIN!! Yay!
(Do check out the product alert though)
Note that both Rabipur and Verorab SPC's include provision for two dose primary schedules (0, 7d).
JUNE 2024: A sad reminder of the importance of rabies PrEP and PEP. A 7 year old boy dies 1 month after pet dog bite in Vietnam
Another cautionary tale here of a man who died (also in Vietnam) after failing to be vaccinated.
JUNE 2024: Also beware of SEALS! No mammal is spared the opportunity to carry rabies sadly. Even cute little seals :-)
And don't forget about BATS which this article shared by the BGTHA highlights nicely. Campers beware!
MAY 2023 Green Book chapter updated to include changes to categories of exposure, post-exposure treatment, and advice relating to immunosuppressed individuals; updated contact details for specialist advice. Sanofi's Rabies BP vaccine recommendations removed due to discontinuation.
JAN 2023 Rabies post-exposure treatment: management guidelines updated. A practical guide to undertaking a risk assessment of potential rabies exposures and the correct use of post-exposure treatment (PET)
Bits and bobs to casually drop into conversation
Did you know....
Ozzy Osborne received post-exposure rabies vaccines after biting the head off a dead bat during a live gig (just to ruin his street cred - he actually thought it was plastic and was horrified to learn it was real as soon as he tasted blood! eek)
It's NOT just spread by dogs!
It's NOT just spread by rabid-looking animals
It's ALWAYS fatal - one of the most deadly diseases we have
Vaccines are pretty much 100% effective!! What a great investment for health
Have a watch of my free webinar below for more post-exposure info and the benefits of pre-exposure vaccines.
"Not so cute and fluffy now" A webinar with some information about rabies and post exposure treatment. May 2024
