SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY OF THE INTRADERMAL THAI RED CROSS (2-2-2-0-1-1) POST EXPOSURE VACCINATION REGIMEN IN THE INDIAN POPULATION USING PURIFIED CHICK EMBRYO CELL RABIES VACCINE

Purpose:To test the immunogenicity of the WHO recommended “2-2-2-0-1-1” post-exposure rabies vaccination regimen in Indian subjects to determine the feasibility of replacing crude sheep brain nerve tissue rabies vaccine with modern tissue culture rabies vaccine at major anti-rabies treatment centers throughout India. Methods:Purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV) was administered in the dosage of 0.1mL per site to 53 Indian subjects. Results:All subjects produced rabies antibodies above 0.5IU/mL by day 14 post-vaccination. Only minor adverse reactions including swelling (6.6%), erythema (5.4%) and pain (1.4%) were observed for which no treatment was required. Conclusions:This study demonstrated that PCECV is safe and highly immunogenic in Indian subjects when administered intradermally as 0.1mL/site using the “2-2-2-0-1-1” post-exposure regimen.