[Post-exposure antirabies vaccination. Early serological response to vaccine cultivated on VERO cells using a reduced...

An abbreviated 2-1-1 schedule for post-exposure rabies vaccination would theoretically lead to more rapid production of specific antibodies than the classical schedule. We measured early serological response to the 2-1-1 schedule.

Patients consulting the antirabies centre of the Epinal hospital from June 1992 to June 1993 who had never been vaccinated and whose exposure history justified antirabies vaccination were included in this study. Fifty subjects were vaccinated with PVRV (purified vero rabies vaccine, Pasteur Institute) cultured on VERO (vervet monkey origin) cells using the abbreviated 2-1-1 schedule of 2 doses (0.5 ml = 2.5 IU/dose) on day 0 and 1 dose on days 7 and 21. Antirabies antibodies were assayed using the Platelia Rage immunoenzyme method (Diagnostic Pasteur) on day 21. Titres above 0.5 IU were considered to give protection and non-protected subjects were seen again on day 28 for a supplementary dose.

Only 34 subjects (68%) had protective antibody titres on day 21, but by day 28, 48 (96%) had acquired immunity. In this study population, the age range was from 1 to 83 years and age over 30 years appeared to delay antibody formation.

These findings emphasize the importance of initial antirabies immunoglobulins if short incubation in suspected and the need for serological follow-up if delayed antibody formation is suspected (subjects over 30).