Anti-rabies vaccine (Anti-rabies vaccine)
Overview of Anti-rabies vaccine
Anti-rabies vaccine is the immunization which prevents infection with the virus that causes rabies. Anti-rabies vaccine is given for Category II (minor scratches without bleeding from contact, or licks on broken skin) and Category III (one or more bites, scratches, licks on broken skin, or other contact that breaks the skin; or exposure to bats) exposures. Antirabies vaccines are of 2 types-Neural and Non-neural vaccines. Though neural tissue vaccines are not directed by WHO to use by its member nations, still these vaccines are used in many developing nations because of their low cost. Non-neural vaccines were developed for reducing the neuroparalytic complications associated with the nervous tissue vaccines.
Indication of Anti-rabies vaccine
Anti-rabies vaccine is primarily indicated in conditions like Neuroparalytic complications associated with the nervous tissue vaccines., Post-exposure prophylaxis, Pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Contraindication of Anti-rabies vaccine
No data regarding the contra indications of Anti-rabies vaccine is available.
Side Effects of Anti-rabies vaccine
The symptomatic adverse reactions produced by Anti-rabies vaccine are more or less tolerable and if they become severe, they can be treated symptomatically, these include Dizziness, Headache, Hypersensitivity reactions, Itching, Local pain, Malaise, Gastrointestinal disturbances.
Precautions of Anti-rabies vaccine
Health staff must be well trained in techniques and vaccines must be stored appropriately for effectiveness. WHO recommends that toddlers and children in highly endemic areas may also be considered for rabies pre exposure vaccination.