Rabies: Green Book chapter updated

Health professionals: the rabies chapter in the Green Book (Immunisation against infectious disease) has been updated

On 26 May 2023, UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) published the updated rabies chapter in Immunisation against infectious disease [1].

Changes include updates to:

• History and epidemiology of the disease.
• The categories of exposure Table 27.3 and composite rabies risk Table 27.4 (page 9).
• Post-exposure treatment advice for immunosuppressed individuals (Table 27.5 and page 12 including details on human rabies immunoglobulin, and timing of an antibody test to confirm response to post exposure treatment).
• Contact details for specialist advice, including change to UK Health Security Agency and Health Protection Scotland details.
• Details of Sanofi Rabies BP vaccine have been removed due to discontinuation.

It is important for health professionals to read this new chapter in its entirety and apply the revisions to clinical protocols and practice.