If an animal that may have rabies bites you, the idea of getting rabies shots can be a bit frightening. However, seeing a doctor promptly and following through with the vaccines can save your life. See your doctor right away if an animal that may have rabies bites you. Rabies is a fatal disease, but it can be prevented if you receive the appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis, such as rabies IgG and the rabies vaccine. [1] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
Steps
Part 1
Part 1 of 3:
Knowing What To Expect
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Learn what the rabies vaccine regimen entails. Knowing what to expect can help to ease any anxiety around the procedure. [2] X Research source
- Assuming you have been bitten or scratched by an animal with a risk of being infected with rabies, you will first receive the rabies immune globulin or IgG. IgG is an antibody that is effective immediately at fighting off any rabies that may be present in your body. [3] X Research source The vaccine takes a couple of weeks to develop your immunity, but IgG will protect you during this period.
- You will also receive the rabies vaccine on the same day, which is a separate thing. The immunity from the rabies vaccine kicks in within about 2 weeks. [4] X Research source
- You will then receive 3 additional "follow-up" rabies vaccines - on day 3 post-exposure, day 7 post-exposure, and day 14 post-exposure, respectively. This is to ensure that it is maximally effective in your system. Because of the high risk and fatality of a rabies infection, it is extremely important that you follow through with all vaccinations scheduled. [5] X Research source
- Both the rabies "immune globulin" as well as the rabies vaccine are safe to give to pregnant people and children. [6] X Research source
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Be aware of possible side effects of the vaccine. Similar to getting a flu shot, the arm muscle where you receive the injection may be sore afterwards, and you may have mild symptoms of fever or generalized muscle aches. This is normal and nothing to worry about. [7] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to sourceAdvertisement
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Complete the treatment regimen. If you follow through with the whole treatment regimen for rabies, your chances for "cure" are near 100%. The main reasons that rabies becomes dangerous are that either you are in a developing country or a location where vaccination is not available, or you ignore the risk of the animal bite and fail to be treated quickly. As long as you seek treatment immediately after exposure, the risk is very low. [8] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceAdvertisement
Part 2
Part 2 of 3:
Surviving the Vaccine
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Bring a friend with you. If you are worried about getting the rabies vaccine, having a friend accompany you to the emergency room can provide an emotional support. Also, if you are nervous around the idea of shots, having someone else to drive you to and from the hospital can help to ensure safety while driving. [9] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals Go to source
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Stay calm. It is important to fully relax your arm before getting the needle put in, as this will minimize the pain. If your muscles are tense, the shot will hurt a lot more. Some strategies to relax include:
- Look away from the needle. Some people get very anxious at the sight of a needle that is about to enter their arm. If this is the case for you, it can be helpful to look away and to distract yourself.
- Practice deep breathing . Focusing on deep breaths can help your whole body to relax, and also help to minimize any tension that may be present in the muscle receiving the vaccine.
- Talk to the person giving you the shot. While looking away, it can also be helpful to distract your mind. One easy way to do this is to make small talk with the nurse giving you the vaccine. It can also help to get your mind off the worry of the pain that is to come. The great thing is that, when your mind is distracted, having a vaccine can be nearly painless!
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Celebrate! If you are someone who is fearful of vaccines, be proud of yourself for following through with the series of rabies vaccines. It is a long process, but one that is extremely important for your health and wellbeing, so be proud of yourself for conquering your fears.Advertisement
Part 3
Part 3 of 3:
Understanding the Importance of Getting Vaccinated
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Be aware that rabies, if untreated, can be fatal. If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal that you suspect may have rabies, it is critical that you seek medical attention promptly. Even when you are treated after you have been exposed to rabies, the good news is that if treatment is done quickly enough you will recover just fine.
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Know which animals can carry rabies. In developing countries, dog bites are responsible for 90% of cases of rabies in humans. [10] X Research source However, in North America the greatest risk for humans comes from bats. Rabies is also common in raccoons, skunks, and foxes. [11] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
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Understand that "surviving" the rabies shots is your "best shot" at surviving. [12] X Research source Therefore, as you prepare to get vaccinated, know that you are doing the right thing. Putting it in context like this can help to ease tension around getting the vaccine, for the benefits far outweigh the hassle or the fear of getting a needle put into you. [13] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to sourceAdvertisement
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References
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/index.html
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-18-rabies-vaccine.html
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/rabies-beyond-the-basics
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/rabies-beyond-the-basics
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/rabies-beyond-the-basics
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/rabies-beyond-the-basics
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/rabies/vaccination/
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/medical_care/index.html
- ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/13848-rabies
- ↑ http://www.uptodate.com/contents/rabies-beyond-the-basics
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/location/usa/index.html
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-18-rabies-vaccine.html
- ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/rabies.pdf
About this article
Article Summary
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If you have been bitten by an animal that might have rabies, seek emergency medical care immediately. Expect to receive the rabies immune globulin and the rabies vaccine on the same day, as well as 3 additional follow-up vaccines on day 3, day 7, and day 14 after you’ve been exposed. If you are nervous about getting the rabies vaccines, bring a friend with you to the emergency room. Rabies can be fatal if left untreated, so make sure you seek help immediately even if you aren’t sure that the animal was infected. It might be scary, but remember that with the proper treatment you will likely recover completely. For more information from our Medical co-author, like how to know which animals can carry rabies, keep reading!
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