Rabies vaccination how does it work

If you have a continued risk of exposure to rabies, you may need to receive the preventive vaccine series every 2 years. If you work around live rabies virus, such as in a laboratory or a vaccine production area, you may need a booster vaccine every 6 months.

You might need frequent blood tests to determine your need for further preventive vaccination. For post-exposure prevention after you have been bitten or exposed to rabies, you will need to receive a total of 4 shots. The first shot is given as soon as possible, and the rest are usually given on Days 3, 7, and This injection is given directly into or near the bite wound or injury where the rabies virus is likely to have entered your body.

For people who have received a rabies vaccine in the past: You will need only 2 rabies vaccine injections for post-exposure prevention, spaced 3 days apart. You will not need the immune globulin shot. The timing of this vaccination is very important for it to be effective. Your individual booster schedule may be different from these guidelines. Follow your doctor's instructions or the schedule recommended by the health department of the state you live in.

Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine or you may not be fully protected against disease. Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction : hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. You should not receive a booster vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot. Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with rabies is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.

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The Vaccine Education Center staff regularly reviews materials for accuracy. You should not consider the information in this site to be specific, professional medical advice for your personal health or for your family's personal health. You should not use it to replace any relationship with a physician or other qualified healthcare professional. For medical concerns, including decisions about vaccinations, medications and other treatments, you should always consult your physician or, in serious cases, seek immediate assistance from emergency personnel.

Contact Us Online. Once someone has been exposed, their dosing will vary depending upon their vaccination history: For those who have been exposed to rabies without previous vaccination, the vaccine is given shortly after exposure to prevent the progressive, invariably fatal disease, rabies. In these situations, a total of four shots are given in the shoulder muscle. The first shot is given immediately after exposure to a rabid animal, then again three days later, seven days later, and 14 days later.

The person should also receive another shot called rabies immune globulin RIG. For those who have been exposed to rabies, but who were previously vaccinated with rabies vaccine, two shots should be given in the shoulder muscle.

The first shot should be given immediately after exposure. A second shot should be given three days later. These people do not need to get RIG. The face of rabies Edgar Allen Poe died from rabies, which has terrified mankind ever since it became obvious that the bite of a rabid animal led to an inevitable and horrible death. The disease What is rabies? How do you catch rabies?

But generally, in the United States, the following guidelines can serve as a good rule of thumb: Rabies vaccine is not needed: If the animal for example, dog or cat lives in or has been hanging around the neighborhood, it can be observed for 10 days to see if it behaves normally. If, after 10 days, the animal does not show any signs of rabies, then no treatment is needed. Sign up for email newsletter. ACIP Recommendations.

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