The rabies vaccine is recommended for some types of professions.
Rabies is an extremely painful and deadly disease, and once symptoms appear, it is likely fatal. As of 2010 there has been one recorded case of a person surviving rabies without post-exposure treatment. Fortunately, the rabies vaccine is highly successful both as a preventative measure and as a post-exposure treatment. Preventative rabies vaccination is recommended for people at high risk of exposure to the virus due to occupation or travel plans. If you have been exposed to an animal who may have rabies, it is imperative that you undergo a post-exposure vaccination schedule immediately.
Features
The vaccine is made from killed, or inactive, virus and is administered as an injection in the deltoid muscle of the arm. Small children may receive the vaccine in the thigh instead. Rabies vaccination is given as a series of three to five shots. There are two types of rabies vaccination schedules: one as a preventative measure and one for post-exposure treatment.
Preventative Vaccination
Not necessary for the general population, preventative rabies vaccination is recommended for three categories of people. The first group includes people who work in high-risk occupations, such as veterinarians and animal handlers. The second group encompasses people who take part in activities such as hunting, trapping or spelunking, which bring them into frequent contact with high-risk species including raccoons, skunks, bats or wild dogs and cats. International travelers to regions where dog rabies is common and/or where access to medical care is limited constitute the third group of people. Vaccination as a preventative measure requires three doses. Booster shots may be recommended for people at continued risk of exposure.
Post-Exposure Treatment
Post-exposure treatment is necessary for anyone who has been potentially exposed to the rabies virus. Properly administered post-exposure rabies treatment has never been known to fail. Once symptoms appear, however, the fatality rate for human rabies is virtually 100 percent, so it is imperative to receive prompt treatment.
If the person had never received a preventative vaccine prior to exposure, he will first receive a dose of rabies immune globulin for short-term protection while his body develops antibodies. This should be administered in or near the wound. The first dose of rabies vaccine should be administered as soon as possible following exposure. Subsequent doses should be administered on days 3, 7 and 14 following the initial injection.
Considerations
Preventative vaccination does not guarantee total protection to a person bitten by a rabid animal. An immunized person who has been potentially exposed to rabies should still receive two more doses of vaccination following exposure--one immediately after the bite and another three days later.
Misconceptions
Some people fear they will contract rabies from a preventative vaccination. You cannot get rabies from the vaccination, because the virus has been inactivated. Expectant mothers exposed to rabies are often fearful that they cannot safely receive a rabies vaccine. Pregnant women who have been exposed to rabies or who are at very high risk for exposure can and should receive vaccination. There is a widespread belief that after 14 days, if an exposed person or animal shows no symptoms of rabies, then they are safe. This is not true. While the usual incubation period does range from 14 to 21 days, in humans rabies can sometimes take years to develop. You must always seek medical attention immediately if you may have been exposed to rabies.
Warnings
Serious reactions to rabies vaccinations are rare. Mild local reactions such as pain or swelling are the most common side effects. People should not receive a preventative rabies vaccination if they are moderately or severely ill. If you are scheduled for a preventative rabies vaccination and become ill, you should ask your doctor about re-scheduling.
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