Post-exposure prophylaxis with purified vero cell rabies vaccine during pregnancy--safety and immunogenicity.

This study was conducted with the main objective of determining the safety and immunogenicity of purified vero cell rabies vaccine (PVRV) during pregnancy. Twenty nine pregnant women exposed to rabies were vaccinated with PVRV as per the Essen regimen advocated by World Health Organization. None of the women experienced any adverse side effects to the vaccine. The intrauterine growth and development monitored by ultrasound examination was found to be normal and the outcome of pregnancy was satisfactory. There were no congenital anomalies in any of the infants born and they were healthy and had normal growth and development during the one year follow-up period. The rabies neutralizing antibody titers from day 14 to day 365 following vaccination in these women was adequate and well above the minimum protective level of 0.5 iu/ml of serum. Protective levels of antibodies were also present in serum of some of the babies tested, for up to 3 months of age. The mothers and infants followed for one year period were doing well at the end of the study period. Consequently, PVRV was found safe and immunogenically efficacious during pregnancy.