Effective May 19, IMOVAX Rabies, a rabies vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, will be temporarily unavailable for pre-exposure prophylaxis in the United States.
Sanofi Pasteur will continue to supply their vaccine to health care providers, who in consultation with public health officials will treat patients who have had documented rabies exposures. This measure will allow responsible management of the limited supplies.
Novartis, another supplier of rabies vaccines in the United States, has limited amounts of the rabies vaccine RabAvert, which is available only for postexposure prophylaxis. Officials anticipate there will be enough vaccine lots approved and distributed by Novartis by July 2008 that vaccines will be available for pre- and postexposure uses.
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