Position statement

WOAH RABLAB warns of risk of using substandard dog rabies vaccines

The World Organisation for Animal Health Rabies Reference Laboratory Network
(RABLAB) is highly concerned about reports regarding the use of subpotent parenteral rabies vaccines (imported or locally produced) in rabies endemic countries.

Scaling up the delivery of dog vaccination campaigns against rabies at national levels must not be at the expense of vaccine quality. The use of poor-quality vaccines will lead to continued high rabies incidence due to insufficient herd immunity thereby jeopardising national rabies control programmes.

WOAH RABLAB emphasises the importance of using approved, high-quality rabies vaccines that meet international standards in terms of efficacy, safety, and sterility.