Experts Push For Rabies Vaccine In Children Before Dog Bites

Administering the rabies vaccine before a dog bite may seem unusual to many parents.

- UNNIKRISHNAN S @T'Puram

However, a rise in rabies infections among children has prompted health experts to recommend pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all children under the age of 14 before any animal attack occurs.

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) and the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) have jointly called for the inclusion of PrEP in child healthcare protocols.

Providing general immunity against rabies not only helps prevent deaths but also reduces the need for expensive rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), which is administered in addition to the standard post-bite vaccine. While previously seen as an excessive measure, the surge in rabies cases and the high cost of post-exposure treatment have made PrEP a necessary intervention.