Rabies Pre-exposure Vaccination and Titers for Veterinarians.

Rabies exposure is an occupational hazard for the veterinary healthcare team, and preventive measures are necessary to protect personnel. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination provides additional protection for at-risk veterinarians, vet techs and other staff, but does not replace good preventive measures such as personal protective equipment, and safe animal and specimen handling procedures. Veterinarians and veterinary support staff are in the frequent-risk group with regard to rabies exposure and should be administered pre-exposure rabies vaccinations, according to the recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). According to the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians’ Compendium of Veterinary Standard Precautions for Zoonotic Disease Prevention in Veterinary Personnel, all staff with animal contact must be vaccinated against rabies, followed by periodic titer checks and rabies vaccine boosters, in accordance with the ACIP recommendations. Benefits of pre-exposure rabies vaccination for the veterinary team Pre-exposure rabies vaccination does not eliminate the need for additional treatment after a rabies exposure, but it eliminates the need for post-exposure rabies immunoglobulin administration and decreases the number of post-exposure doses of vaccine needed. Pre-exposure prophylaxis may also provide protection if post-exposure rabies treatment is delayed or if rabies exposure is