Equivalence between pre-exposure schemes for human rabies and evaluation of the need for serological monitoring.

Objective: To evaluate the humoral immune response to the pre-exposure schedule of human rabies vaccination through intradermal and intramuscular routes, as well as the need for serological monitoring.

Methods: A randomized and controlled intervention study was carried out in São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil, from 2004-2005. There were 149 volunteers, of which 127 completed the vaccination schedule (65 intradermal and 62 intramuscular) and underwent humoral immune response evaluation at ten, 90 and 180 days post-vaccination.