4 August 2008

Supply of rabies vaccine

The supply of human diploid cell rabies vaccine (HDCV, Rabies vaccine BP™) in the United Kingdom (UK) will be affected later this year as a result of upgrading of the Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD) vaccine production facility in France. SPMSD currently has enough supplies of Rabies vaccine BP™ to meet current demand until later in the year.

The Department of Health has agreed that SPMSD can import Verorab™ in order to ensure that there remains a supply of rabies vaccine in the UK. Verorab™ is an approved World Health Organization vaccine and is used widely throughout Europe, but does not have a marketing authorisation (product license) in the UK. Verorab™ cannot therefore be included on a Patient Group Direction (PGD), but will instead require a Patient Specific Direction (PSD).  Verorab™ can be used interchangeably with both HDCV and Purified Chick Embryo Vaccine (PCEV) and the vaccine schedule is the same, i.e. day 0, 7, and 21 or 28, for pre-exposure vaccination.

Novartis, suppliers of Rabipur™ (PCEV), currently have sufficient supplies of vaccine. Enquiries regarding Rabipur™ should be directed to Novartis customer services on 08457 451 5000.

All enquiries regarding Verorab™ should be directed to SPMSD medical information on 01628 587693. NaTHNaC will continue to monitor the situation and publish further updates as appropriate.

Information on the risk of rabies in specific countries is available on the NaTHNaC Country Information Pages.

All travellers with a history of having been bitten or scratched by any warm blooded animal whilst overseas should be promptly evaluated and receive post exposure vaccine as appropriate. Expert advice is available from:

• Health Protection Agency Centre for Infection – 020 8200 6868
• Health Protection Scotland – 0141 300 1100
• Public Health Laboratory Service, Belfast City Hospital – 028 9032 9241.

Links

NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on rabies

Health Protection Agency

NaTHNaC Country Information Page

Information on the use of PGDs and PSDs can be found in chapter 5 of Immunisation against infectious disease (‘Green Book’).