Target species
Dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and ferrets.
Indications for use, specifying the target species
For the active immunisation of dogs, cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and ferrets (12 weeks of age and older) to prevent infection and mortality caused by rabies virus.
Onset of immunity:
14–21 days after primary vaccination.
Duration of immunity:
Dogs: three years following the primary vaccination course.
Cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and ferrets:
one year after primary vaccination, and two years after booster vaccinations.
Contraindications
Do not use in animals that are showing signs of rabies or that are suspected of being infected with rabies virus.
Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the adjuvant or to any of the excipients.
Special warnings for each target species
Vaccinate healthy animals only.
Special precautions for use
Special precautions for use in animals
Not applicable.
Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals
In the case of accidental self-injection, seek medical advice immediately and show the package leaflet or the label to the physician.
Special precautions for the protection of the environment
Not applicable.
Other precautions
Not applicable.
Adverse reactions (frequency and seriousness)
Dogs:
Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): | Injection site swelling1 Hypersensitivity reaction2 |
1Transient, following subcutaneous administration which may reach up to 10 mm in diameter and in rare cases be associated with mild discomfort. Usually resolves within 10 days.
2Appropriate treatment should be administered without delay.
Cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and ferrets:
Very rare (<1 animal / 10,000 animals treated, including isolated reports): | Injection site pain1, Injection site swelling2 Hypersensitivity reaction3 |
1Mild and associated with injection site swelling.
2Transient.
∙ following intramuscular administration may reach up to 2 cm in diameter and usually resolves within 7 days.
∙ following subcutaneous administration may reach up to 10 mm in diameter and usually resolves within 10 days. In rare cases may be associated with mild discomfort.
3Appropriate treatment should be administered without delay.
Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See also section 16 of the package leaflet for contact details.
Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay
Pregnancy and lactation:
Can be used during pregnancy.
The vaccine has not been extensively tested in lactating animals. However, the limited data that are available indicate that administration of the vaccine to lactating animals will not be associated with an increased incidence of adverse reactions.
Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Dogs
Safety and efficacy data are available which demonstrate that this vaccine can be administered subcutaneously in dogs on the same day as vaccines from the Vanguard range (Vanguard 7, Vanguard Plus 7, Vanguard Plus 5, Vanguard Plus 5L, Vanguard Pup, Vanguard Puppy, Vanguard CPV, Vanguard CPV +L, Vanguard DA2Pi, Vanguard DA2Pi+L, Vanguard Lepto ci where approved), either mixed or at different sites. The duration of immunity for the Vanguard range when used with Versiguard Rabies has not been established.
After concurrent or mixed administration of Versiguard Rabies and Vanguard canine range, vaccinated dogs may have a transient swelling (up to 6 cm) at the injection site and a transient swelling of the sub-mandibular and/or pre-scapular lymph nodes at the injection site 4 hours after vaccination. These signs resolve within 24 hours.
Safety and efficacy data are available which demonstrate that this vaccine can also be used as solvent for the live vaccines of the Versican Plus range (Versican Plus DHPPi, DHP, DP, P and Pi) and administered subcutaneously in dogs. After mixed administration with the Versican Plus range vaccinated dogs may commonly have a transient swelling (up to 5 cm) at the injection site. The swelling can occasionally be painful, warm or reddened. Any such swelling will either have spontaneously resolved or be greatly diminished by 14 days after vaccination. In rare cases gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhoea and vomiting or anorexia and decreased activity are possible.
Use as solvent for the Versican Plus range:
The contents of a single vial of Versican Plus vaccine should be reconstituted with the contents of a vial containing 1 dose of Versiguard Rabies (instead of the solvent). Once mixed, the contents of the vial should appear a pink/red or yellowish colour with light opalescence. The mixed vaccines should be injected immediately via the subcutaneous route.
Co-administration with Vanguard canine range:
To mix both products, Vanguard vaccines should be reconstituted according to their SPCs. The reconstituted vial will be well shaken and then mixed with 1 ml of Versiguard Rabies either in the Versiguard Rabies vial or the syringe. Versiguard Rabies will be well shaken before use. The mixed vaccines will be gently shaken and then administered immediately by subcutaneous injection.
Other target species
No information is available on the safety and efficacy of this vaccine when used with any other veterinary medicinal product. A decision to use this vaccine before or after any other veterinary medicinal product therefore needs to be made on a case by case basis.
Amount(s) to be administered and administration route
Dogs: administer by subcutaneous injection.
All other species: administer by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection.
Shake the vial before use.
Dosage:
A single dose of 1 ml is sufficient irrespective of age, weight or animal species.
Primary vaccination scheme:
Animals of all target species can be vaccinated from 12 weeks of age.
Primary vaccination is with a single dose of vaccine.
Re-vaccination scheme:
Dogs: a single dose of Versiguard Rabies should be given every 3 years. Antibody titres drop over the course of the 3-year duration of immunity, although dogs are protected when challenged. In case of travelling to risk areas or outside the UK, veterinary surgeons may wish to give additional rabies vaccinations to ensure that the vaccinated dogs have an antibody titre ≥ 0.5 IU/ml, which is generally regarded as sufficiently protective and that they meet the travel test requirements (antibody titres ≥ 0.5 IU/ml).
Cats, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses and ferrets: animals should be revaccinated with one dose of vaccine 1 year after primary vaccination.
After the first booster vaccination (administered 1 year after primary vaccination), animals should be revaccinated every 2 years with one dose of vaccine.
Overdose (symptoms, emergency procedures, antidotes), if necessary
Local reactions after subcutaneous vaccination with an overdose tended to larger (up to 12 mm in diameter) than after a standard dose.
Withdrawal period(s)
Dogs, cats, ferrets: Not applicable.
Cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses: Zero days.