Federal authorities announced removal of limitations on one brand of pre-exposure rabies vaccine that had been imposed in spring 2008 because of tight supplies.
An early April announcement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that Novartis Vaccines, one of the nation’s two human-use rabies vaccine suppliers, had doses available for pre-exposure use. Novartis and Sanofi Pasteur both supply vaccines for postexposure use, but Sanofi’s vaccine is available only following evaluations from state or local health departments.
Both vaccines were restricted to postexposure use starting in May 2008, with exceptions for people who were at the greatest risk, such as veterinarians, wildlife biologists, and laboratory workers.
Information provided by Sanofi Pasteur indicates the company started renovations to its rabies vaccine production facility in June 2007 to maintain compliance with U.S. and French regulations. The facility is scheduled to be operational this year.
Sanofi Pasteur had produced its vaccine on the basis of historical demand prior to the start of renovations, but Novartis was unable to produce projected quantities of its vaccine, according to the CDC.
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