Trend of human rabies prophylaxis in developing countries: toward optimal rabies immunization

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Rabies is a fatal zoonotic viral disease requiring effective prevention strategies.
• Vaccination regimens aim to reduce dosage, duration, clinical visits, and cost.
• Intradermal (ID) rabies vaccination is a cost-effective alternative to intramuscular (IM) vaccination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review rabies vaccines and vaccination regimens.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different rabies prophylaxis strategies.
• To provide insights into post-exposure, pre-exposure, and booster vaccination protocols.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical trials on rabies vaccines.
• Analysis of international treatment guidelines for rabies prophylaxis.
• Comparison of intradermal (ID) and intramuscular (IM) vaccination regimens.

Main Results:

• Intradermal (ID) rabies vaccination regimens demonstrate comparable efficacy to standard intramuscular (IM) regimens.
• ID regimens offer significant cost reductions, making them suitable for developing countries.
• The review covers post-exposure prophylaxis, pre-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups, and booster vaccinations.

Conclusions:

• Intradermal rabies vaccination is a viable and effective alternative to intramuscular vaccination.
• Optimized vaccination regimens are essential for rabies prevention and control worldwide.
• Further adoption of cost-effective ID regimens can improve global rabies prophylaxis accessibility.