Vaccine Info

RabAvert Rabies Vaccine

Authored by

Staff

Last reviewed

May 17, 2023

Fact checked by

Robert Carlson, MD

RabAvert Rabies Vaccine May 2023

RabAvert is a vaccine that contains an inactivated rabies antigen. The RabAvert vaccine is indicated for preexposure vaccination, in both primary series and booster doses, and for postexposure prophylaxis against rabies in all age groups. RabAvert Rabies Vaccine is a sterile, freeze-dried vaccine obtained by growing the fixed-virus strain Flury Low Egg Passage (LEP) in primary cultures of chicken fibroblasts. The strain Flury LEP was obtained from American Type Culture Collection as the 59th egg passage, stated GSk.

The growth medium for the propagation of the virus is a synthetic cell culture medium with the addition of human albumin, polygeline (processed bovine gelatin), and antibiotics. The virus is inactivated with β-propiolactone and processed by zonal centrifugation in a sucrose density gradientFinally; the vaccine is lyophilized after adding a stabilizer solution that consists of buffered polygeline and potassium glutamate.

RabAvert, in combination with passive immunization with Human Rabies Immune Globulin [HRIG] and local wound treatment in postexposure treatment against rabies, has been shown to protect patients of all age groups from rabies when the vaccine was administered according to CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or World Health Organization, guidelines and as soon as possible after rabid animal contact.

Bavarian Nordic announced on August 5, 2020, the commercial operations in the USA after completing the acquisition of the manufacturing and global rights to Rabipur®/RabAvert® from GSK. Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development, manufacture, and commercialization of life-saving vaccines.

RabAvert Vaccine Price

RabAvert can be found at many pharmacies in the USA. The price ranges from $439 to $382 with coupons. InstantRx™ is a digital gateway empowering people to easily find lower-priced medicines and vaccines.

RabAvert Indication

RabAvert is indicated for preexposure vaccination, in both primary series and booster doses, and for postexposure prophylaxis against rabies in all age groups. Preexposure vaccination does not negate the need for post-exposure treatment should a potential rabies exposure occur, it simply reduces the doses of medicine needed post-exposure.

Patients at risk of a severe hypersensitivity reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to RabAvert or any of its components should receive an alternative rabies vaccine if a suitable product is available. However, given the almost invariably fatal outcome of rabies, there is no contraindication to post-exposure prophylaxis, including pregnancy.

RabAvert Dosage

RabAvert is indicated for preexposure vaccination, in both primary series and booster doses, and for postexposure prophylaxis against rabies in all age groups. RabAvert is intended for intramuscular (IM) injection. In adults, administer vaccines by IM injection into the deltoid muscle. In small children and infants, administer vaccines into the anterolateral zone of the thigh. An unintentional intravascular injection may result in systemic reactions, including shock. In addition, syncope (fainting) can occur in association with the administration of injectable vaccines, including RabAvert. Therefore, procedures should be in place to avoid falling injuries and to restore cerebral perfusion following syncope.

One dose of reconstituted vaccine contains ≤12 mg polygeline (processed bovine gelatin), ≤0.3 mg human serum albumin, 1 mg potassium glutamate, and 0.3 mg sodium EDTA. Small quantities of bovine serum are used in the cell culture process. Bovine components originate only from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Minimal amounts of chicken protein may be present in the final product; ovalbumin content is ≤3 ng/dose (1 mL), based on ELISA.

RabAvert should be stored protected from light at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F). After reconstitution, the vaccine is to be used immediately. The vaccine may not be used after the expiration date given on the package and container.

RabAvert News

July 19, 2022 - Maine CDC stated that bats made up 46 percent of animals submitted to the state lab for rabies testing in 2021.

May 5, 2022 - The annual rabies surveillance report presents the official statistics for animal rabies in the US, summarizes laboratory and epidemiological data from 54 reporting US jurisdictions, and provides an overview of rabies in Canada and Mexico during 2020.

August 5, 2020 - Bavarian Nordic announced the initiation of entire commercial operations in the U.S. only eight months after completing the acquisition of the manufacturing and global rights to Rabipur®/RabAvert® (Rabies Vaccine) and Encepur® (Tick-Borne Encephalitis Vaccine) from GSK.

October 21, 2019 - Bavarian Nordic announced that it had entered an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline to acquire the manufacturing and global rights to Rabipur®/RabAvert® and Encepur®, two commercial vaccines with combined annual sales of approximately EUR 175 million[3] holding strong positions in growing markets. Rabipur/RabAvert provides pre- and post-exposure protection against rabies, while Encepur protects against the European (Western) tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus.