Pages: (35-45 )
Abstract
Rabies has been prioritized for stepwise elimination among human and domestic dog populations by 2030 by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control. The assessment of vaccine availability, usage practices and one-health collaboration in endemic countries remain strategic towards achieving the goal. An inventory of rabies vaccines approved for use in Nigeria by the regulatory body, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) was reviewed; key informants (n=71) including veterinarians (n=58, 81.7%), vaccine vendors (n=4, 5.6%), vaccine importers (n=3, 4.2%), physicians (n=3, 4.2%) and pharmacists (n=3, 4.2%), were interviewed and a market survey of rabies vaccines on sale in all 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria was undertaken between April and June 2019. Rabies vaccines were grouped according to manufacturer, country of origin, type (live-attenuated or inactivated), and market permit status. Only seven out of 17 brands of rabies vaccines (7 human and 10 veterinary preparations) available for sale in pharmacies and veterinary clinics across the country were approved and registered for use in Nigeria by NAFDAC for rabies pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. Most (n=60, 84.5%) of the key informants were unaware of the total number of rabies vaccine brands sold in Nigeria, or the registration status of sold vaccines (n=45, 63.4%). Of the few (n=10, 14.1%), that indicated awareness of all the rabies vaccines sold in-country, a majority (n=7, 9.86%) listed only five out of 17 brands, while one person each listed only six, seven and eight different brands, respectively. The disparity in the number of authorized rabies vaccine brands and those available in the market may indicate a critical gap in market regulation enforcement in Nigeria. There is a need for strict oversight on importation, registration, distribution and administration of rabies vaccines in Nigeria.
Keywords: Vaccine inventory, Regulation, Control, One-Health, Nigeria.,