saRNA Rabies Shot Avoidance

The New Wonder Jab: NXT

In an earlier issue, I posted about the underpinnings of this “NXT” vaccine.  Here’s a quick review of concerns:

• Safety first: Only studies done by Merck, no third party research

• Short term safety studies only

• There are no built in “brakes” to stop the injected “self-amplifying” RNA from endlessly creating rabies proteins

• And where will these rabies proteins end up? In the brain? No answers…

• Shedding?

That last one is still theoretical, but we were clearly lied to on the Covid mRNA “staying put” in the body, when its lipid nanoparticle carriers clearly reached even the brain of those who rolled up their sleeves and got a free donut.

The current consensus is that viruses can shed but not particles. The bird flu virus shedding in cow milk is established. The spread of RNA from exosomes is still theoretical and not measured. We’ll see as more work is done in this area.

How It’s Being Sold

It’s fair to say most vets are hearing about this through sales reps. Based on my first 7 years in conventional practice, that “detailing” of a new product by a rep was typically all we had time for. They’d tell the high points, focus on perceived benefits, and ask how much we wanted. We had zero time for research (pre-internet in the early ‘80’s, to be fair, but I doubt that’s changed much; vets are busy). Here’s what Dr. WhiteCoat is being detailed about with NXT:

• Only a 1/2 ml dose! (other vaccines are usually 1 ml)

• No mercury! Thimerosal-free!

• No aluminum adjuvants!

So, does that mean it’s guaranteed safe? Or will stop producing rabies virus proteins at some point?

No, we simply don’t have long term, independent safety studies to tell us that.

And <cough> it comes with the same labels of 1 year or 3 year “need” to repeat.

What Can You Do?

I suggest the following to make sure you’re not putting your animal at risk until safety is verified in long term, third party research.

If you can’t avoid another rabies shot… (and you’ve evaluated your risk to get rabies to be remote or nil, or your animal is already vaccinated and you’ve studied DOI – duration of immunity), I’d at least avoid this Merck Nobivac NXT rabies vaccine (and its cousins, for canine flu and FeLV in cats).

Practical steps to avoid this:

• Ask ahead of your appointment if NXT is in the clinic. It’s likely thought to be brag worthy, so you should get a quick answer if it’s in stock.

• If it is, next question: “Do you still carry the older thimerosal-free version?”

• If so, and again, you’re seeing no way to avoid yet another rabies vaccine, make the appointment but ask to see the label AND the mixing of the vaccine before it’s injected.

That last one is a small but significant ask. No telling what can happen in the “back room,” and all you’ll see is the filled syringe.

But: Is TF (thimerosal-free) Really Zero Mercury?

Please be clear on this. It’s a question I hear often, and safety cannot be assumed when you learn this part.

The answer, for decades has been: No.

TF means there’s probably less mercury, but no guarantee there’s none of this toxic metal present.

Why? Excipients. Or “inactive ingredients.”

These are “proprietary” ingredients added to vaccines that need not be listed. It’s “intellectual property,” so FDA rules these need not appear on labels.

Aluminum can be part of those ingredients as well, and not show on the label or insert.

And we’ve learned that toxic metal can accumulate in the brain…

So, would I still recommend seeking out TF vaccines when you have no choice but to vaccinate?

I would. I’d presume it’ll have less of that toxic heavy metal at least.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve run into NXT vaccines at your vet visit. Or if you’ve navigated TF hurdles yet. It’s early, but these new vaccines rolled out in Canada and the US in 2024.