• Product Name: Rabies Vaccine
• Tradename: Imovax
• Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur, SA
• Vaccine Ontology ID: VO_0000063
• CDC CVX code: 18
• Type: Inactivated or "killed" vaccine
• Status: Licensed
• Location Licensed: USA (License #1724)
• Host Species for Licensed Use: Human
• Antigen: Strain PM-1503-3M obtained from the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA.
• Preparation: The virus strain PM-1503-3M obtained from the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, is harvested from infected human diploid cells (MRC-5 strain), concentrated by ultrafiltration and is inactivated by beta-propiolactone. One dose of reconstituted vaccine contains less than 100 mg albumin, less than 150 μg neomycin sulfate and 20 μg of phenol red indicator. The vaccine contains no preservative or stabilizer (FDA: Imovax).
• Immunization Route: Intramuscular injection (i.m.)
• Storage: The vaccine should be stored in the refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (35°F to 46°F). Do not freeze (FDA: Imovax).
• Approved Age for Licensed Use: all ages
• Contraindication: For postexposure treatment, there are no known specific contraindications to the use of IMOVAX Vaccine. In cases of pre-exposure immunization, there are no known specific contraindications other than situations such as developing febrile illness etc (FDA: Imovax).
• Description: Imovax is a sterile, stable, freeze-dried suspension of rabies virus prepared from strain PM-1503-3M obtained from the Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA. This vaccine must only be used intramuscularly and as a single dose vial (FDA: Imovax).

• Manufacturer: Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics
• Vaccine Ontology ID: VO_0000094
• Type: Inactivated or "killed" vaccine
• Status: Licensed
• Location Licensed: USA (License #1754), Canada
• Host Species for Licensed Use: None
• Preparation: The strain Flury LEP was obtained from American Type Culture Collection as the 59th egg passage. The growth medium for 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 beta-propiolactone, and further processed by zonal centrifugation in a sucrose density-gradient. The vaccine is lyophilized after addition of a stabilizer solution, which consists of buffered polygeline and potassium glutamate (Rabavert)
• Immunization Route: Intramuscular injection (i.m.)
• Storage: RabAvert should be stored protected from light at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) (Rabavert).
• Contraindication: There is no contraindication to post-exposure immunization. Persons with a history of anaphylactic, anaphylactoid, or other immediate reactions (e.g. hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, hypotension, or shock) subsequent to egg ingestion should not be immunized with this vaccine (Rabavert).
• Description: The RABAVERT Vaccine is an inactivated, purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV). It consists of lyophilized rabies virus (strain Flury LEP) that has been propagated in chicken fibroblasts, inactivated with beta-propiolactone, and concentrated and purified by centrifugation

Human Response

• Immune Response: Seroconversion was often obtained with only one dose. With two doses one month apart, 100% of the recipients developed specific antibody (FDA: Imovax).
• Side Effects: Most common side effects reported in clinical studies included: injection site reactions, headache, nausea, abdominal pain, muscle aches and dizziness (FDA: Imovax).

Human Response

• Immune Response: When administered according to the recommended immunization schedule (days 0, 7, 21), 100% of subjects attained a protective titer (Rabavert).
• Side Effects: The most common side effects reported are: injection site reactions (redness, itching, and swelling), fever, and swollen lymph nodes (Rabavert).