ChiroRab® is a vaccine containing rabies virus that has been killed. After administration of the vaccine, the immune system (the body’s natural defence system) forms antibodies to rabies viruses. These antibodies protect from infections or diseases by the virus that causes rabies. None of the components of the vaccine can cause rabies.
ChiroRab® can be used to prevent rabies in two possible situations:
Pre-exposure prophylaxis: Before possible risk of exposure to the rabies virus
Post-exposure prophylaxis: After suspected or proven exposure to the rabies virus
Rabies is an infection that can be transmitted when an individual is bitten, scratched, or licked by an infected animal, particularly where there is broken skin. Contact with animal traps licked or bitten by infected animals can also cause infections.
ChiroRab® can be used to prevent rabies in two possible situations:
Pre-exposure prophylaxis: Before possible risk of exposure to the rabies virus
Post-exposure prophylaxis: After suspected or proven exposure to the rabies virus
Rabies is an infection that can be transmitted when an individual is bitten, scratched, or licked by an infected animal, particularly where there is broken skin. Contact with animal traps licked or bitten by infected animals can also cause infections.
ChiroRab® will be given to you/your child by a doctor or nurse trained to provide vaccines. Treatment that may be needed to manage severe types of allergic reactions that can occur after receipt of the vaccine should be available (see section 4 of this leaflet). The vaccine should be given to you/your child in a clinic or surgery with the necessary equipment to treat these reactions.
The end of this leaflet contains instructions for reconstituting the vaccine for doctors and medical personnel.
The recommended dose for adults and children of any age is one millilitre (1.0 ml) per injection.
Your doctor will decide how many doses you/your child should receive, depending on whether you/ your child are/are being given ChiroRab® before or after any possible contact with the virus.
The vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle (usually the upper arm or, in small children, the muscle of the thigh).
ChiroRab® can be given to anyone exposed to the rabies virus (including those who are pregnant) because of the seriousness of rabies infection.
DO NOT take ChiroRab® before the risk of exposure to the rabies virus if you or your child:
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, you should still be given the rabies vaccine if you have had, or are likely to have had, contact with the virus. You can also be vaccinated with ChiroRab® during pregnancy or while breastfeeding and before exposure to the virus, if the risk of contact with the virus is thought to be considerable. In this instance, your doctor will discuss the dangers of vaccination and rabies infection with you and advise you on the best timing for ChiroRab® vaccination.
Like all medications, this can also have side effects. They may or may not happen to everybody.
Very common side-effects:
Common side-effects:
Rare side-effects:
Very rare side-effects:
ChiroRab® contains:
Less than 23 mg of sodium per dose is essentially ‘sodium-free’.
If you or your child is known to be at risk of a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or to any of the ingredients, you/your child may be given a different vaccine against rabies that does not contain these ingredients. If no alternative vaccine is available, your doctor or nurse will discuss the risks of vaccination and rabies virus infection with you before you or your child receives the vaccine.