Intradermal rabies vaccine recalled

Individuals who might have been vaccinated with a subpotent, intradermal rabies vaccine should contact their health care provider. In an online Notice to Readers in the "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" (July 28), the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified specific lots of IMOVAX Rabies I.D. under recall. The vaccine is used for pre-exposure rabies prophylaxis in humans.

Through routine stability testing, manufacturer Aventis Pasteur learned that the potency of lot P0313-2 fell below specification 24 months after manufacture, within the product's expiration date. Although only the cited lot was involved, two other lots (P0030-2 and N1204-2) that were prepared from the same initial bulk lot are being recalled as a precautionary measure.

The CDC notice indicates that as a precaution, patients who were vaccinated with one of these lots for pre-exposure prophylaxis — and who remain at risk for rabies exposure — should either be tested to measure the presence of antibodies and be vaccinated as needed (if the testing will not substantially delay vaccination), or be revaccinated. Aventis Pasteur recommends that patients being revaccinated receive one dose of IMOVAX Rabies vaccine approved for intramuscular use. The company has established a toll-free telephone number ([800] 752-9340) for medical inquiries about the recall and is contacting customers who received shipment of the recalled lots.