GAVI Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) Review - "Gavi-PEP"

The "Gavi-PEP" project aims to identify effective community engagement strategies to enhance rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) uptake and assess the feasibility of integrating Rabies PEP into Tanzania's Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).

Funded by Swiss TPH, the one-year project will be implemented through targeted work packages, including a qualitative study on community engagement strategies and an assessment of the feasibility of integrating Rabies PEP into EPI.

Rabies PEP, when administered correctly, is nearly 100% effective in preventing rabies deaths. However, despite Gavi's support through the Gavi, Vaccine Alliance that approved rabies PEP funding (2021–2025 strategy), community uptake of Rabies PEP remains low due to a lack of well-established strategies for integrating established strategies for integrating rabies PEP into the routine immunisation programmes.

The Gavi-PEP project, therefore, seeks to improve access to life-saving rabies PEP by addressing community-level barriers and strengthening health system integration. Carried in Tanzania, the project study sites include Mtwara, Lindi, Arusha, Morogoro and Mara.

The Gavi-PEP project team will be under the leadership of Ifakara Health Institute scientists, Dr. Kennedy Lushasi, the Principal Investigator and Farida Hassan, the Project Leader.