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Supply Constraints with Rabies Vaccine (UK)

26 September 2022

There are currently supply constraints with rabies vaccine in the UK. Rabies Vaccine BP (Sanofi Pasteur) has been discontinued with Rabipur (Valneva) the only licenced rabies vaccine currently available.

While some stock of Rabipur is available, supplies are limited, and clinics may have difficulty in obtaining rabies vaccine.

Enquiries regarding availability of Rabipur should be directed to Valneva’s distributors, Polarspeed:

  • telephone 01525 217666

Advice for Travellers

Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease of the central nervous system caused by the rabies virus. People are infected when saliva from an infected mammal comes into direct contact with broken skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth), usually from a bite, scratch, or lick. Rabies can also be transmitted by bats.

Rabies is invariably fatal once symptoms develop. Only a small number of people with the disease are known to have survived.

Please see the TRAVAX Rabies page for further information and the Individual Country pages for information on country specific rabies risk.

All travellers to rabies endemic areas should be advised that:

  • any animal contact (including bats) in a rabies endemic area poses a potential risk of infection
  • they should avoid contact with animals (both wild and domestic), particularly dogs and cats
  • if bitten, scratched or licked, they should carry out immediate wound care and seek medical attention immediately, regardless of if they have received pre-exposure rabies vaccine

Further advice is available on prevention against animal bites, including bat bites.

Whilst supplies are limited, clinics might need to consider prioritising pre-exposure vaccine stock for those travellers at highest risk. This is dependent on the risk assessment but may include travellers such as those who are:

  • not able to promptly (<24 hours) access a major medical centre for post-exposure advice and treatment with rabies vaccine or Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG)
  • travelling for extended periods (>1 month)
  • at higher risk of contact with animals and bats, including cave explorers, cyclists/runners, zoologists, botanists, volunteers in animal sanctuaries and veterinary surgeons
  • working or living in remote areas
  • children as they may lack awareness of the need to avoid animals, less able to defend themselves from an animal attack and may not report a potential exposure
  • healthcare workers who are likely to come into close contact with a patient with rabies

If a pre-exposure rabies vaccine course is interrupted or doses delayed due to supply constraints, there is no need to restart a vaccine course.

Travellers may want to consider obtaining rabies vaccine at their destination.

For information relating to post exposure rabies guidance and how to obtain HRIG and rabies vaccine for post exposure treatment, please see the TRAVAX Rabies Post Exposure Guidance page.