Human Rabies vaccine

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:06:58 GMT

Good, I am glad that you found it. It does give you a certain peace of mind. Good luck with the trip.

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:03:07 GMT

Yes, the GP surgery got me some Rabipur, which I am having.

They are also very interested and researched what I needed (reaching the same conclusion as I had already). The transmission season for Japanese Encephalitis in that region will be almost over, but I'm having vaccination anyway.The worst bit was sitting watching the NHS computer chunter around the internet at glacial velocity.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 12:51:38 GMT

Purely out of scientific interest, did you find the vaccine and did you have it?

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:04:12 GMT

Jeepers, I'm not sure I want to go now.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 23:00:58 GMT

I'm very disappointed in my colleagues not being prepared to give them-self a little vaccination!

I once used a skin stapler to close a 2" cut on my hand. A little jab is nothing.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Rebecca Jennings — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:29:56 GMT

A good travel doctor will be able to give you an intradermal course of 0.1mls each time instead of 1ml IM each time, 0,7 and 28 days I think.

Don't forget your deet, no vacc for Dengue fever.

Have a great trip

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Sarah Keir — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:56:59 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Sarah - do you bother with Japanese Encephalitis Virus?

[/quote]

I did when I did extensive travelling in Asia a few years back. This is one of the vaccines I had to source myself.

I brilliant website I check every time I travel is http://www.nathnac.org/ .

Happy travels!

Sarah

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:15:03 GMT

[quote user="Christopher Saul"]

Not sure but on a related topic:

The human vaccine needs a course of 2-3 vaccinations as the primary. Moreover if you are bitten then post exposure prophylaxis is recommended even if you're vaccinated. For the PETS scheme (as of next year) there is only a requirement for a single vaccine without any serological testing. Why do we place such faith in a signle rabies vaccine when our human medical colleagues obviously don't??

[/quote]

An interesting point to which I do not know the answer but could it be anything to do with the potential risk of exposure to rabies either because we are about to enter a rabies environment or because we are occupationally already in one at home or abroad? On the other hand pets (in lower case) coming to Europe are entering a relatively safe environment. At the moment small animals exported to Europe from here require only a single dose followed by an acceptable titre from a blood test taken later. I do not know whether that will change.

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:56:28 GMT

Simon.

No offence taken so don't worry although I appreciate your clarification. I have a somewhat morbid fascination with rabies, not just because I am/was a pathologist but because I have seen some presumed puzzling cases in the field at a time when there was no easy way of confirming the diagnosis in the living animal. I find discussions that touch on the disease interesting and am inclined to dive in!

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Simon Neuhoff — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:32:36 GMT

[quote user="Tim Cheyne"]

By 'helpful' I hoped that the links might help the earlier poster find a source of diploid vaccine; never mind.

The post-exposure advice was given many years ago when human diploid vaccine was first available and might well have changed since. In any case it was preferable to the then fourteen injections into the abdominal muscles. In fact we first vaccinates were used as guinea-pigs and were asked to provide blood samples at each of the first three injections. Subsequently I worked with many cases of confirmed or suspected rabies and, like you Simon, I am convinced that I am still OK. However the picture is rather clouded by the belief that many people exposed to rabies, even those actually bitten, do not develop the clinical symptoms.

Tim..

[/quote]

Sorry Tim - by "not helpful" I was referring to the content of my post! As in a purely anecdotal sideline...... No offence intended regarding your VERY helpful post!

I suspect we - by that I mean the chap I was working for - WERE given the correct advice - he simply followed it in a very halfhearted manner. At the time I was a new grad and in that phase where you just automatically do what you're told.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:27:55 GMT

[quote user="Sarah Keir"] Remember, just don't get bitten in the first place![/quote]

I guess that's reasonable advice!

The rabies vaccine seems to be sorted now, (thanks, Andrew), fortunately - the price about as you mentioned.

Sarah - do you bother with Japanese Encephalitis Virus?

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Andrew Chadwick — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:26:53 GMT

My wife went to India last month, and had a similar problem - the GP surgery and pharmacy told her that the 'usual' rabies vaccine (Rabipur by Novartis) was out of stock. Like in your case, it was suggested that I might be able to source the vaccine myself. I tried NVS and was told that they could provide the vaccine, then a week later they rang to say ...guess what... we're awfully sorry, Rabipur is out of stock at the moment!! Things were getting a little tight timewise at this point so the mrs did a little further research and found out (from either the GP or the chemist, I can't remember) that there is an alternative vaccine which was available at the time.It is produced by Sanofi, and the name is 'Rabies Vaccine BP'. The protocol for the primary course is a little different to Rabipur but if I remember rightly it is still spread over a 4 week, 3 injection course. It may be worth going back to the GP/chemist and asking them about this. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip (pack some Imodium though!)

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Sarah Keir — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:07:00 GMT

I'm a globetrotter and frequently get many immunisations each year. I last had a rabies booster about 4months ago, through my GP - cost about £40 as far as I remember. When I had the initial vaccination course several years ago, my GP at that time did not offer it so I rang round local GP surgeries until I found somewhere that offered it. It is nearly always a private travel related thing so you'll need to pay for it. For other vaccinations, I have got my GP to write to prescription (private = pay) then taken to a pharmacist to source - not had any probs with this and the nurse at the GP surgy even administered them for me. If you are really stuck then the travel clinics may help. There are many, especially in London but you might find one closer to home.

Hope it helps. Remember, just don't get bitten in the first place!

Sarah

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:47:36 GMT

By 'helpful' I hoped that the links might help the earlier poster find a source of diploid vaccine; never mind.

Tim..

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Simon Neuhoff — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:57:27 GMT

Not helpful info but I was interested to hear about the post exposure advice above. We had three injections as students in South Africa as I recall, and after my only proven exposure to rabies the boss and I only had one injection - not self adminsitered but mutually administered. Not sure if that was due to following the prevailing advice or if the boss just couldn't be bothered....... - but I THINK I have been ok since ;-)

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:40:43 GMT

From the BA website

We have transferred our Travel Clinic business to MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad), who have become British Airways preferred partner for travel health services.

· MASTA's central London travel clinic is located close to Oxford Circus at 52 Margaret Street.

· The clinic is open six days a week and operates an appointment and walk-in service.

· To make an appointment at MASTA's Oxford Circus Travel Clinic, please phone 0845 600 2236 (from the UK).

For details of clinics throughout the country go to http://www.masta-travel-health.com/

Hope that this helps.

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Tim Cheyne — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:03:27 GMT

Do the British Airways Travellers Clinics still exist? Years ago I had my first human diploid rabies shots at the one in Regent Street. London (there was another at Victoria, I remember). Two small shots a month apart with a third a year later when I returned on leave, plus a recommendation of a single booster every three to five years according to exposure risk. Post-exposure required three or five (I cannot remember) shots as soon as reasonably possible. It was the only vaccine current at that time in which I had any faith and the post-exposure regime was far preferable to that of two other common vaccines.

Tim.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:14:51 GMT

[quote user="Christopher Saul"]Why do we place such faith in a signle rabies vaccine when our human medical colleagues obviously don't??[/quote]

Dunno!

There is said to be a true shortage of vaccine.

Thanks for the hint about the HPA, but 'cos this is Wales it's not quite that straightforward! Or so it seems.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Louise6732 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:21:00 GMT

We've had a rabies scare in our practice where several members of staff had to be vaccinated, perhaps that's why there are no vaccines!

Health Protection Agency are the people to get in touch with if you need it for work, they organise to send the vacc to your GP practice and the nurse gives you the vaccine, or you take it home and DIY I'm definitely not a DIY candidate!

Louise

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 10:17:02 GMT

When I had a course a few years ago to go to Africa the GP wrote a prescription and the local pharmacy ordered it in for me, one of my nurses then gave me the shots as I couldn't be bothered going back to the doctors and I was too chicken to jab myself! So is it just the GP can't get it themselves or is there a shortage related to the veterinary vaccine production foul-up?, I've not been able to get Quantum but could get Nobivac.

Re: Human Rabies vaccine

Christopher Saul — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:46:28 GMT

Not sure but on a related topic: