Follow-up of protective antibody level after post-exposure vaccination with purified tissue culture rabies vaccine (PCEC) small doses intradermally.

Twenty-nine vaccinees, 18 males, 11 females, aged 2-61 years (median 12 years) received PCEC intradermally for post-exposure prophylaxis during February to May 1989. Twenty-one cases received 4 sites of 0.1 ml ID on days 0, 3, 7 and 1 site ID on days 28 and 90. Four cases received 4 sites ID on days 0, 3, 7 and 1 site on days 14 and 28. The other 4 cases got the different schedules of ID by the poor compliance. Blood specimens were taken from these vaccinees at 2, 6 or 7, 9, 12 and 16 months after the initial dose. Neutralizing antibodies were measured by standard mouse neutralization test used WHO rabies antiserum as reference. All 65 tested sera showed positive neutralizing antibody. The GMT of antibodies at months 2, 6 or 7, 9, 12 and 16 were 17.68, 2.01, 1.56, 0.88 and 0.56 IU/ml respectively. Mild itching at injection sites was reported in 3 cases and low fever with malaise in 1 case.