Rabies - The Vaccine

IMOVAX® is available for travellers to high risk areas out of reach of medical attention. Three injections are given, at days 0, 7 and 28, conferring 2 years' protection. It is recommended that anyone who is unvaccinated and is bitten by an animal or who has been exposed to Rabies should receive 5 doses of Rabies vaccine plus one dose of Rabies Immunoglobulin at the same time as the first dose. This gives immediate protection.

Contents of vaccine IMOVAX® (Connaught Labs)

Contents of RABIES VACCINE ABSORBED (Glaxo SmithKline)

Side effects of vaccine IMOVAX®

• Soreness, redness, swelling at injection site; progression to muscle and joint pains
• Headache, fever and severe allergic reactions; hives and difficult breathing
• Irritation, restlessness, anxiety; salivation and vomiting
• Painful muscle spasms triggered by swallowing saliva or water (hence hydrophobia)
• Guillain-Barré syndrome and other nervous system disorders
• IMOVAX® is not compatible with anti-malaria drugs, steroids (even Asthma inhalers or Hay Fever medication), or Cancer treatment
• Do not use if the person concerned is allergic to cow serum, human albumen, monkey proteins, neomycin, polymyxin B, or thiomersal
• Do not use if the person concerned has a weakened immune system (e.g. HIV/AIDS); or has a fever, cold or 'flu

References:

• http://www.bnf.org
• http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/rabies1.htm