Intradermal rabies vaccine more effective

Abstract

According to the results of a study conducted in Bangalore, India, rabies vaccine given intradermally, rather than by the usual intramuscular route, uses less vaccine, provides protective titres and can decrease vaccine costs by nearly 60%. A group of 39 subjects each received eight 0.1 ml doses intradermally on day 0, four more on day 7, and one dose each on days 28 and 90. This schedule produced antibody levels higher than the minimum recommended 0.5 IU ml-1 and protective antibodies persisted at the end of 1 year. As India accounts for nearly half the world figure of 60 000 deaths from rabies, the use of the intradermal vaccine could decrease vaccination costs and help increase its coverage. CK