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Intradermal Rabies Vaccination: The Evolution and Future of Pre- and Post-exposure Prophylaxis

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Intradermal Immunization

Part of the book series: Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology ((CT MICROBIOLOGY,volume 351))

Abstract

Inactivated rabies vaccines have been used to pioneer the immunological and economical advantages of intradermal (ID) administration over 35 years. Vaccine shortages or its prohibitive cost stimulated studies of various doses, frequency and sites of injection. An economical regimen for pre-exposure prophylaxis requires one-tenth of an intramuscular dose, but the early popularity of the method has been stifled by pharmaceutical regulations. There has also been reluctance to use multiple-site post-exposure ID regimens, except in a very few Asian counties. A new four-site ID regimen could overcome many of the problems encountered to date. The time is ripe to make dramatic progress towards efficient use of the current excellent vaccines globally, wherever there is a shortage of vaccine or funds.

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  1. Oxford Vaccine Group, Centre for Clinical Vaccinology & Tropical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK

    M. J. Warrell

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Correspondence to M. J. Warrell .

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  1. , Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam, Academic Medica, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, Netherlands

    Marcel B.M. Teunissen

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Warrell, M.J. (2011). Intradermal Rabies Vaccination: The Evolution and Future of Pre- and Post-exposure Prophylaxis. In: Teunissen, M. (eds) Intradermal Immunization. Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology, vol 351. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/82_2010_121

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