Transfer of Vaccine Production to the Developing World: Rabies Vaccine

Abstract

Ours has been termed “the age of new vaccines” (1). From the standpoint of rabies in the developing world, a more apt characterization might be “the age of old vaccines.” Semple-type vaccines for postbite treatment of humans continue to be manufactured and used in more than 50 developing countries where rabies is a significant health problem (2). Perhaps we should call this era “the age of no vaccines.” Far too many developing countries fail to manufacture sufficient veterinary rabies vaccine to permit serious planning for the control of dog and cat rabies, let alone the implementation of nationwide control programs. It is estimated that at least 280 million dogs in enzootic areas should be vaccinated. At present fewer than 10% of these dogs receive vaccine (2).