Rabies vaccine in short supply

YOUNGSTOWN — The shortage and high cost of the vaccine given to people exposed to rabies has county public health officials urging residents to refrain from handling wild animals and learn what to do if they are scratched or bitten by a pet.

The shortage of vaccine has a two-fold cause, said Dr. John Venglarcik, Mahoning County District Health Department medical director and an infectious disease specialist.

First, there was a delay in production of the vaccine, which caused the Ohio Department of Health to require county health departments to obtain ODH permission before they could get the vaccine.

At this point, the supply is limited to use only when absolutely necessary. Also, administering pre-exposure vaccine, which is given to veterinarians and others who routinely handle animals, is being restricted, he said.

The second reason for the shortage of post-exposure vaccine is that health departments have had to dispense the vaccine in situations where it might not have been necessary if people had been better informed, Venglarcik said.

He said there have been several cases this year in Mahoning County. These resulted in people receiving the post-exposure series of shots, which might not have been necessary if people were more careful or better informed about what to do when they fear exposure.

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