Oxford University’s new rabies vaccine could save lives

Developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, the new vaccine ChAdOx2 RabG has shown promising results in a clinical trial in Tanzania, offering stronger and longer-lasting protection in both adults and children compared to currently available options.

Rabies causes an estimated 59,000 deaths each year, mainly in Africa and Asia, with children at highest risk.

Most existing vaccines require multiple clinic visits, making them difficult to deliver in low-resource settings.

Professor Sandy Douglas of the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, who developed the vaccine and is the study’s senior author, said: “Rabies is entirely preventable, yet it still causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, mostly among children.

“Our findings suggest that a single-dose vaccine could offer a practical and affordable way to protect vulnerable populations, particularly in rural and low-resource settings.”

The trial involved 63 adults and 111 children aged two to six, who were given either the new vaccine or a licensed rabies vaccine for comparison.

In adults, the new vaccine generated antibody levels around five times higher than those seen with a single dose of existing vaccines after one year.

In children, it produced levels more than eight times higher.

It also outperformed the World Health Organisation’s recommended two-dose regimen in children.

Nearly all children given the new vaccine maintained protective antibody levels one year post-vaccination.

Dr Adam Ritchie, first author of the study and senior vaccinologist at the Jenner Institute, said: “If these results are confirmed in larger trials, this vaccine could be a game changer for rabies prevention.

“In a world where wealthy travellers can be vaccinated but children living in the same high-risk regions rarely are, it has the potential to simplify vaccination, reduce costs, and ultimately save lives.”

The vaccine also produced rapid immune responses, raising the possibility that it could be used after exposure as part of emergency treatment, though further research is needed.

A follow-up study is planned to start later this year.

Rabies is most commonly spread through dog bites.

Global prevention efforts focus on vaccinating dogs and providing post-exposure treatment to people.

However, the need for multiple vaccine doses makes routine immunisation difficult in areas with limited healthcare infrastructure.

Researchers hope that a single-dose, low-cost option could make preventive vaccination more feasible in high-risk regions.

The trial is ongoing, with participants to be followed for up to 5.5 years to assess the duration of protection.

Larger studies will be required before the vaccine can be approved for wider use.

The full study is published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.