Aventis Rabies Vaccine Lot ‘Live’

Aventis Pasteur recalled its rabies vaccine Sunday in the United States after discovering that one lot contained live virus.

Aventis Pasteur recalled its rabies vaccine Sunday in the United States after discovering that one lot contained live virus. CNN reported Sunday that as a precaution, the Lyon, France-based company is also recalling three other batches of the vaccine known as Imovax that had been made at the same time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Atlanta said in a statement that the lots being recalled were distributed between Sept. 23 and April 2, and “had passed all FDA-approved release tests, including that for the absence of live virus,” suggesting the risk that someone may have have received the live vaccine may be small. There have not been reports that the rabies vaccine caused anything unusual, but those who received the vaccine should contact their health care provider, the CD said. About 18,000 people in the United States received a dose of the rabies vaccine as a preventive action last year. Since they also received immune globulin, which contains antibodies that kill live virus, they would not have any risk. However, the 40,000 people who received the vaccine as a preventive against a possible bite such as a veterinarian, should contact their health care provider to get an injection of immune globulin, said Aventis Pasteur spokesman Len Lavenda, in Swiftwater, Pa.(Source: United Press International, April 2004)