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CVS COVID-19 Vaccine Near Columbus OH
www.cvs.comPharmacy LocationBy appointment only3307 East Broad Street(614) 235-8605591 East Livingston(614) 464-24801400 Parsons Avenue(614) 449-93993424 S High Street(614) 491-81374199 Morse Xing(614) 471-32641892 N High Street(614) 298-80513355 East Livingston Avenue(614) 237-3737Jun 2, 2022 · If your health care provider or local health department recommend vaccination, the vaccine should be given as soon as possible after an exposure but may be effective any time before symptoms begin. Once symptoms begin, rabies vaccine is no longer helpful in preventing rabies.
- Rabies
In the United States, more than 90% of reported cases of...
- RTF [119K]
Once symptoms begin, rabies vaccine is no longer helpful in...
- Rabies Pre-exposure Vaccination
Pre-exposure vaccination is recommended for persons who work...
- Rabies Vaccination
Vaccine recommendations and contraindications; composition,...
- Rabies
- 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
You should receive 2 doses of rabies vaccine given on days 0 and 7. Depending on your level of risk, you may be advised to have one or more blood tests or receive a booster dose within 3 years after the first 2 doses. Your health care provider can give you more details. Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies if given to a person after an exposure ...
The rabies vaccine is given to people who are at higher risk of coming in contact with rabies — like veterinarians. It’s also given to people after an animal bite if the animal could have rabies. If you’re bitten by an animal that could have rabies, contact your doctor right away. Learn more about seeking medical attention for rabies.
May 1, 2024 · If you have already received the vaccine in the past and have been exposed to the rabies virus, you will need to get 2 doses on 2 different days within a 1-month period. If you have not yet received the vaccine and were exposed to the rabies virus, you will need a total of 5 doses on 5 different days within a 1-month period.
