A reduced schedule for anti-rabic pre-exposure vaccination in humans and annual assessment booster doses

Abstract

A reduced schedule for a pre-exposure anti-rabic immunization, of humans with 3 doses of 1 ml of Fuenzalida-Palacios type vaccine administered on alternate days, plus one booster 30 days after the first dose, was related. The blood samples were collected on the 0, 30th and 40th day after the first vaccine dose and the antibody titration was performed by serum neutralizing test. It was observed that 74,6% of the patients presented serum neutralizing antibodies on the 30th day and 98.1% on the 40th day, demonstrating the efficacy of this reduced schedule in stimulating the antibody response in a short time. The importance of a booster dose was emphasized. In the patients submitted to annual boosters over a period of 10 years, a gradual increase in the number of patients with anti-rabic antibodies before the subsequent booster dose was observed, reaching the level of 100% in the 9th year. It was suggested that the booster doses be administered at longer intervals and after antibody titration in order to evaluate the need for the administration of the booster dose.