Kathmandu: The government is preparing to make intradermal rabies vaccine available throughout the country.

In the first phase, intradermal rabies vaccine would be made available in all zonal hospitals and primary healthcare centres. Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Teku, said the vaccine would be made available in all zonal hospitals within this month. Likewise, in the second phase the service would be expanded to all district hospitals.

“Health workers in hospitals and health centres have already been trained for the purpose,” said Abinash Prasad Singh, zoonotic officer at EDCD. The government had introduced intradermal rabies vaccination in Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, Teku, on July 16.

This vaccination against rabies is used to prevent the development of clinical rabies, usually following the bite of an animal such as dog, bat, mongoose and fox.

Intradermal rabies vaccination is given in the dermis and epidermis of human skin. The intradermal route is widely used for the administration of rabies vaccine. Before this vaccine was introduced in the country, rabies vaccine was administered through intramuscular or subcutaneous routes using needle and syringe.

“When intradermal vaccine is used more people can benefit as it reduces per injection cost,” added Singh.