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Jun 2, 2022 · Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies.. Rabies is a serious illness that almost always results in death. Rabies virus infects the central nervous system. Symptoms may occur from days to years after exposure to the virus and include delirium (confusion), abnormal behavior, hallucinations, hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia (difficulty sleeping), which precede coma and death.
- Overview
- 1. How does the rabies vaccine work for humans?
- 2. How many doses do humans need?
- 3. Does the rabies vaccine cause side effects?
- 4. Do I need a rabies vaccine?
- 5. How long does the rabies vaccine last?
- 6. How much does it cost?
- 7. Where do I get it?
- The bottom line
Rabies only rarely affects humans in the United States. But for people who do contract the virus, it’s almost always fatal without prompt medical care.
This serious virus, which is typically transmitted via animal bites and scratches, attacks the central nervous system, explains William R. Dodge, MD, an emergency medicine physician with Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California.
Once the virus reaches your brain, it causes neurological symptoms, like confusion, hallucinations, and seizures, followed by coma and eventually death.
That’s why you’ll want to contact a doctor right away if you’ve received a bite or scratch from a wild animal or unvaccinated pet, Dodge says, even if you aren’t sure they have rabies.
Here’s the good news: The rabies vaccine can protect you from the virus. But you’ll typically get this vaccine after exposure to the virus, unlike preventive vaccines that you get before potentially contracting a condition.
•Imovax, or the HDCV vaccine, made using human cells
“Getting a rabies vaccine immediately after a bite from an animal that might have rabies can jumpstart your body’s fight against the virus,” Dodge says.
The rabies vaccine triggers your immune system to produce antibodies, Dodge explains. These special proteins can recognize foreign invaders, like viruses, and destroy them.
The rabies vaccine may prevent you from getting the virus if you receive it as soon as possible — ideally within 1 to 2 days of exposure.
The incubation period for the rabies virus typically ranges from a few days to several months. During the incubation period, you won’t experience symptoms because the virus has yet to reach your brain. Once the virus reaches your brain and symptoms develop, the vaccine can no longer offer protection.
FYI
Adults and older children will receive the rabies vaccine in the shoulder muscle, while younger children and babies will receive injections in the thigh muscle.
Your pets might get a yearly rabies booster or one every few years. But humans often need multiple injections for full protection.
The number of doses you’ll need depends on two things: whether you’ve had a rabies vaccine in the past and the type of exposure you’re receiving treatment for.
It’s essential to get medical attention as soon as possible after a bite from an animal that could have rabies, even if you’ve recently had a rabies vaccine booster, Dodge emphasizes.
“Depending on your risk of coming into contact with a rabid animal in the future, your doctor might recommend getting another booster within 3 years after your first two doses,” Dodge says.
The most common side effects of the rabies vaccine include:
•pain at the injection site
•skin discoloration
•swelling
•induration, or hardening or thickening of the skin at the injection site
These mild, local reactions typically go away within a few days. You can usually treat them with over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Unlike most other vaccines, you typically only receive the rabies vaccine after you’ve had exposure or potential exposure to the virus. You may also choose to get the vaccine if you plan to travel to countries where rabies is endemic, or regularly found.
Any mammal can carry rabies, including both wild animals and unvaccinated pets, such as:
•bats
•raccoons
•skunks
•squirrels
The rabies vaccine does not provide lifelong protection. Protection can last for anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on how many doses you’ve had.
For example, if you get two doses of the rabies vaccine as a preventive measure, you’ll need a booster dose in 2 years if you still have a high risk of exposure to rabies.
The out-of-pocket cost of the rabies vaccine ranges from about $1,200 to $6,500.
When medically necessary — after a bite from a stray dog or wild squirrel, for instance — health insurance will usually cover the vaccine.
If you think you may have been exposed to rabies, your best option is to head to your nearest emergency room (ER).
Many primary care and urgent care clinics don’t administer this vaccine. So, if you make an appointment with your regular doctor and they recommend a rabies vaccine, they’ll typically send you to the ER anyway.
Thanks to widespread animal vaccination, rabies has significantly declined in the United States. But if you do happen to encounter an unvaccinated or wild animal, a postexposure rabies vaccine can save your life.
When administered in time, the rabies vaccine can help your immune system fight off the virus effectively. The sooner you get it after exposure, the greater your chances of protecting yourself.
Always contact your doctor immediately after receiving a scratch or bite from an animal if you don’t know its vaccination status.
Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer covering health and wellness, fitness, food, lifestyle, and beauty. Her work has also appeared in Insider, Bustle, StyleCaster, Eat This Not That, AskMen, and Elite Daily.
- Rebecca Strong
Nov 2, 2021 · A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. This is given if you haven't had the rabies vaccine. This injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite. A series of rabies vaccinations to help your body learn to identify and fight the rabies virus.
May 15, 2024 · Pre-exposure vaccination (PrEV) Most people in the United States have a low risk of encountering an animal with rabies. However, a small subset of people have a higher level of risk, like those who work directly with animals that could have rabies, or those who travel to parts of the world where rabies is common and access to medical care is limited.
Mar 10, 2017 · Vaccines Recommended for Travel and Some Specific Groups. Preexposure vaccination is recommended for persons in high-risk groups, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, and certain laboratory workers. Although preexposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for additional medical attention after a rabies exposure, it can decrease the ...
The rabies vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent rabies. [11] There are several rabies vaccines available that are both safe and effective. [11] Vaccinations must be administered prior to rabies virus exposure or within the latent period after exposure to prevent the disease. [12] Transmission of rabies virus to humans typically occurs through a ...
Jul 13, 2022 · The rabies vaccine works extremely well to prevent rabies but has a fairly high rate of side effects such as sore arm, nausea, vomiting and dizziness. The vaccine is also rarely a cause of the severe allergic reaction, anaphylaxis. No one has ever died from the current rabies vaccine.
