Purified chick embryo cell (PCEC) rabies vaccine for human use: clinical trials.

The purpose of the study was the clinical evaluation of the new PCEC-Rabies-Vaccine. In 620 healthy volunteers mild local side-reactions could be observed in less than 2% of the vaccinations. No relevant general reactions have been reported or seen after the 2200 injections apart three cases of urticaria. All the 218 volunteers tested developed neutralising rabies antibodies of the IgG-type between day 0 and day 30 after the first vaccination dose. In 45 patients the PCEC-Rabies-Vaccine, applied together with human rabies immunoglobulin in a postexposure vaccination, afforded protection against rabies after contact with a proven rabid animal. The clinical trials are proof that the compatibility and efficacy of the PCEC-Rabies-Vaccine match the high standards established by the HDC-Rabies-Vaccine.