Public Health Seattle & King County has learned that effective May 19, 2008, Sanofi Pasteur IMOVAX Rabies (Rabies Vaccine) will temporarily only be available for post-exposure prophylaxis. Sanofi Pasteur will continue to supply their vaccine to health care providers, who in consultation with Public Health, are treating patients who have had documented rabies exposures. These measures will allow responsible management of currently limited supplies of this vaccine. A letter from the manufacturer explaining this change was released to clinicians on Monday, May 19th, 2008.

This shortage is related to renovations to Sanofi Pasteur’s rabies vaccine production facility in France that began in June 2007. After the renovations began, Novartis, the other supplier of rabies vaccine for the United States, was unable to meet projected rabies vaccine supplies. Since early 2008, Novartis has been supplying its rabies vaccine, RabAvert, for post-exposure use only. Consequently, Sanofi Pasteur has been supplying nearly all of the market for rabies vaccine. The increase in demand for IMOVAX is outpacing the company’s historical levels of supply. It is expected that additional vaccine will be available again approximately in July 2008. More information is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Rabies Page.

More information

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Rabies page
• Public Health Seattle & King County Information for Health Care Providers on Assessment, Management, and Reporting of Animal and Bat Bites in King County