Allegheny County Warns of Rabies Vaccine Recall

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health issues voluntary recall for some vials containing sterile water instead of vaccine.

Feb. 25, 2026 at 6:42pm

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The Allegheny County Health Department is warning pet owners about a rabies vaccine recall issued by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. The recall affects a limited number of vials that contained sterile water instead of the rabies vaccine. Pet owners are advised to check their vaccination certificates and contact their veterinarians if this product was administered.

Why it matters

Rabies is a deadly virus that can be spread through the saliva of infected animals, so maintaining proper vaccination for pets is crucial to public health. This recall could leave some pets unprotected, potentially exposing owners and the community to the risk of rabies transmission.

The details

Boehringer Ingelheim issued the voluntary recall for the IMRAB 3TF rabies vaccine with the serial number 18665 and an expiration date of March 12, 2027. The company says this represents about 2.5% of the total IMRAB doses sold in the U.S. in 2025. Veterinary clinics that received the affected vaccines have been notified and will contact pet owners to arrange for revaccination.

  • The recall was issued on February 13, 2026.
  • The affected vaccines were administered after September 29, 2025.

The players

Allegheny County Health Department

The local public health agency in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania that is warning pet owners about the rabies vaccine recall.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health

The pharmaceutical company that issued the voluntary recall for some of its rabies vaccine vials that contained sterile water instead of the vaccine.

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What’s next

Pet owners who received the recalled rabies vaccine should contact their veterinarians to arrange for their pets to be revaccinated.

The takeaway

This recall highlights the importance of maintaining proper rabies vaccination for pets to protect public health, and demonstrates the need for vigilance by both pet owners and veterinary providers to ensure the integrity of vaccine supplies.