Rabivax-S Vaccination in India

Rabivax S – Serum International Institute

Indication and Usage –

• RABIVAX-S [Rabies vaccine inactivated] is a sterile, purified inactivated rabies vaccine prepared on vero cells.
• RABIVAX-S is indicated for the prevention of rabies in children and adults. It can be used before or after exposure, as a primary immunization, or as a booster dose.

Dosage and Administration –

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis

The following schedule should be followed for pre-exposure prophylaxis in high risk populations.

• Post-exposure prophylaxis

In order to remove as much of the rabies virus as possible, immediately cleanse the wound with soap and wash thoroughly with water.

The following schedule should be followed for post-exposure prophylaxis in previously unimmunized populations.

Contraindications –

• Pre-exposure prophylaxis

In case of fever or an acute illness, vaccination should be postponed. In case of previous severe reaction to any components of the vaccine, Rabivax-S is contraindicated. In all cases, the risk/benefit ratio should be assessed.

• Post-exposure prophylaxis

Because of the life threatening risk of rabies, there are no contraindication to the administration of Post-exposure prophylaxis using Rabivax-S. The intradermal route must not be used in the individuals receiving long term corticosteroid or other immunosuppressive therapy or chloroquine for malaria treatment or prophylaxis and in immunocompromised individuals. Such individuals may have a reduced response to intradermal rabies vaccination and should instead receive the vaccine intramuscularly.

Adverse reactions –

• The most common side effects include pain, joint pain, vaccination site redness as well as swelling. They do not normally last very long. Sitting or lying down can sometimes help. Consult your doctor if any of the side effects persist or worry you.
• Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine.

1. Pain
2. Joint pain
3. Injection site redness
4. Injection site swelling
5. Swelling of lymph nodes

Drug interactions and other interactions –

• Corticosteroids, chloroquine and other immunosuppressive treatments can interfere with the immune response of the vaccine and lead to the failure of the vaccination.
• It is therefore advisable to perform a neutralizing antibody assay 2-4 weeks after the last injection.
• Immunoglobulins must be administered at the different site from that of the vaccine ( the contralateral side ).

The recommended dose of rabies Immunoglobulin should not exceed nor should repeated doses of the same be administered once the vaccination course has been started since a higher dose could interfere with the immune response to rabies vaccine.