Finishing rabies vaccine course in the US?
January 4, 2014 10:58 AM   Subscribe

I was bit by an animal and started a course of Verorab/Rabipur while traveling in Thailand. How can I finish the course in the US?

While traveling in Thailand, I was bitten by an animal and went to a doctor to get rabies shots, where I was prescribed a course of Verorab/Rabipur, to be administered on Day 0, Day 3, Day 7, and Day 30. I completed the first 3 shots in Thailand and have a few weeks before I need to do the last shot (Day 30). However, to my understanding, neither Verorab nor Rabipur are used in the United States.

What's the best course of action? Is there a doctor or clinic who can provide this vaccine in the NYC area? Or should I just go to a GP (I don't have one) and explain the situation? Thanks.
posted by pravit to Health & Fitness (5 answers total)
 
You could also go to a travel clinic, who will probably be able either to provide the shot or aim you at a doctor who can.
posted by jeather at 11:12 AM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]


Would it be possible for you to purchase a dose of the vax in Thailand before you leave and have it administered by a doctor in the US on the date you need it done?
posted by thatone at 11:53 AM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Rabies vaccine page from the CDC: Travelers - Receiving Treatment Outside The United States

"Postexposure therapy outside the United States may include materials not used in the U.S. such as purified vero cell rabies vaccine (Verorab ™, Imovax - Rabies vero ™, TRC Verorab ™), purified duck embryo vaccine (Lyssavac N ™), or different formulations of PCEC (Rabipur ®) or HDCV (Rabivac ™).
If these materials have been used, it might be necessary to provide additional therapy when the patient returns to the United States. State or local health departments should be contacted for specific advice in such cases."

Urgent cares and emergency departments provide rabies prophylaxis in the United States, but it's unclear from the CDC page what exactly you would need, so I think you're better off with a travel clinic or a GP who has time to do a little research for you on your unusual situation.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 4:42 PM on January 4, 2014 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks everyone. I guess I'll just look for a GP and start from there.

Would it be possible for you to purchase a dose of the vax in Thailand before you leave and have it administered by a doctor in the US on the date you need it done?

I had considered doing that to save myself the likely high cost of doing it in the US, but this type of rabies vaccine needs to be stored at a certain temperature. As well, I think it's highly unlikely any US doctor would agree to inject a patient with some foreign vaccine the patient had procured him/herself.
posted by pravit at 5:15 AM on January 5, 2014


Response by poster: I realized I never followed up on this. I went to the Travel Medicine Program at Mt. Sinai and they gave me the last shot I needed. Was really straightforward and covered by insurance.
posted by pravit at 10:52 AM on July 20, 2014


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