Anti-rabies vaccine to be administered intradermally

HOSHIARPUR: To minimise expenditure on anti-rabies treatment, which is provided free of cost to dog bite patients in civil hospitals and secondary health centres, the Punjab government has now decided to switch to intradermal administration of the rabies vaccine.

A circular in this regard has been issued to all civil surgeons of districts.

Presently, the vaccine is largely administered through the intramuscular route, which is expensive.

Non-availability of the vaccine in government hospitals forces the patients to go to private clinics, where a single dose of the vaccine costs between ₹350-400, and who cannot afford it usually opt for home remedies which can be risky.

In the intradermal procedure, the quantity of the vaccine used is very low as it requires roughly one fifth of the dosage used otherwise.

The intradermal regimen has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as safe and efficient.

Last year, under the Centre’s National Rabies Control Programme, training was given to nodal officers and paramedical staff of the health department.

In certain areas, the new technique was started but largely, intramuscular method continued to be practised.

Sources said a major reason behind the programme remaining a non-starter was due to shortage of syringes.

“We are waiting for the stock (of syringes) to arrive. As soon as we get the supply, intradermal dosage will be started,” said district epidemiologist Manohar Lal.

The directorate of health has asked civil surgeons to strictly follow the new guidelines and cite reasons in their monthly reports in case the vaccine is administered using the old technique.