Inactivated Rabies Vaccine
About Inactivated Rabies Vaccine
Inactivated Rabies Vaccine is a prescription vaccine used to prevent rabies, a serious and almost always fatal viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system if left untreated. It may be given before possible exposure in people at high risk or after an animal bite, scratch, or saliva exposure from a potentially infected animal. Receiving treatment after an animal bite can be stressful, but prompt medical care and timely vaccination are highly effective at preventing rabies.
Inactivated Rabies Vaccine is given as a series of injections. To ensure complete protection, it is important to receive every dose exactly as scheduled by your healthcare provider. Because it is given by injection, food does not affect how well it works. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and getting enough rest can help support your body's immune response during the vaccination period.
Most people experience only mild side effects, such as pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, headache, muscle aches, or a mild fever. These side effects are usually temporary and improve within a few days. However, seek emergency medical attention immediately if you develop difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, severe weakness, or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.
Before receiving Inactivated Rabies Vaccine, tell your doctor if you have a weakened immune system, a current illness with a high fever, or a history of severe allergic reactions. Although a previous severe allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine is an important consideration, rabies is life-threatening, and your healthcare team will carefully weigh the risks and benefits to ensure that you receive the safest possible protection.
Certain medicines, including steroids, immunosuppressants, chemotherapy, and some antimalarial medicines, may reduce your body's response to Inactivated Rabies Vaccine. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, an older adult, or have any concerns about vaccination, discuss them with your healthcare provider. In many situations, particularly after an exposure, the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the potential risks.
Uses of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine
Medicinal Benefits
Inactivated Rabies Vaccine helps protect against rabies, a serious and potentially fatal viral infection. When given before or promptly after exposure, it provides highly effective protection and plays a critical role in preventing rabies-related illness.
Benefits may include:
• Provides lifesaving protection against rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms develop.
• Offers highly effective post-exposure protection when administered promptly along with proper wound care and other recommended treatment.
• Supports pre-exposure protection for individuals at increased risk of rabies exposure, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, and laboratory personnel.
• Simplifies future post-exposure management in people who have previously completed a pre-exposure vaccination series.
• Provides long-term protection for individuals with ongoing occupational or environmental exposure risks.
• Offers reassurance and peace of mind following an animal bite, scratch, or potential rabies exposure.
Directions for Use
- Follow your doctor's instructions regarding doses and timing of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine for optimal results.
- Inactivated Rabies Vaccine will be administered by a healthcare professional in a medical setting.
- Do not self-administer.
Storage
Side Effects of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site
- Headache or muscle pain
- Mild fever or chills
- Nausea, dizziness, or general fatigue
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing or swallowing
- High fever or severe, unusual weakness
- Tingling, numbness, or a 'pins and needles' sensation in your hands or feet
Drug Warnings
- Clean exposure wounds immediately: Wash all bites, scratches, or saliva-contaminated wounds with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Applying an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine afterward may help reduce the amount of virus at the wound site.
- Ask about rabies immunoglobulin (RIG): If you have never received a rabies vaccine before, ask your healthcare provider whether you also need rabies immunoglobulin along with your first vaccine dose.
- Complete the vaccination schedule: Do not skip or delay any scheduled doses, especially after a potential rabies exposure.
- Ensure proper administration: Confirm that Inactivated Rabies Vaccine is given in the upper arm (or the outer thigh in young children) and not in the buttocks.
- Keep vaccination records: Maintain a record of your vaccination dates, vaccine brand, and batch number for future reference.
- Inform your doctor about other medicines: Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking steroids, chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, or other medicines that affect the immune system.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience: Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction after vaccination.
Drug Interactions
- Immunosuppressive medicines (e.g., high-dose corticosteroids, medicines used after organ transplantation): These medicines may reduce your body's ability to develop protective antibodies after receiving Inactivated Rabies Vaccine.
- Antimalarial medicines (e.g., chloroquine): These medicines may reduce the immune response to Inactivated Rabies Vaccine when it is administered by the intradermal route.
- Cancer treatments (e.g., chemotherapy): Cancer therapies may weaken the immune system and reduce the effectiveness of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine. Additional monitoring or antibody testing may be required.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionNo interaction was found/established. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Pregnancy
cautionIf you are pregnant, consult, and seek advice from your doctor before receiving the vaccine.
Breast Feeding
cautionPlease tell your doctor, if you are a breastfeeding mother before receiving the vaccine.
Driving
cautionIt is not known if Inactivated Rabies Vaccine affects your ability to drive or operate machinery. Drive only if you are alert.
Liver
cautionLimited information is available regarding the usage of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine in patients with liver impairment. Let your doctor know if you have liver disease/conditions.
Kidney
cautionLimited information is available regarding the usage of Inactivated Rabies Vaccine in patients with kidney impairment. Let your doctor know if you have kidney disease/conditions.
Children
safe if prescribedInactivated Rabies Vaccine can be given safely to children provided the dose has been prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Clean wounds immediately: Wash all animal bites or scratches with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes as soon as possible.
• Apply an antiseptic: If available, apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine after cleaning the wound to help reduce the risk of infection.
• Get adequate rest: Ensure you get enough sleep and rest to help support your immune system during the vaccination period.
• Follow a balanced diet: Eat nutritious meals that include fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains to support your overall health and recovery.
• Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day to help maintain proper hydration.
• Practice animal safety measures: Continue using appropriate protective equipment and follow recommended safety practices if you work with animals or in other high-risk environments.
• Maintain vaccination records: Keep a written record of your vaccination dates, vaccine brand, and batch number for future reference and to assist your healthcare provider if needed.
Special Advise
Immunosuppressive treatments, including long-term corticosteroid therapy, may interfere with antibody production and cause rabies' failure. It is advisable to perform a serological test 2 to 4 weeks after the last injection.
Even if you have been vaccinated, you should still take precautions to avoid contact with rabies if you are travelling in an area where rabies is found. Please contact a doctor immediately if you have been bitten or scratched by an animal in an area with a risk of rabies.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Rabies: It is a viral disease that causes severe infection, progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. It is transmitted to humans and other animals through close contact with saliva from infected animals (bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membranes). Once symptoms of the disease develop, rabies is fatal to both animals and humans. It has two forms: Furious rabies (characterised by hyperactivity and hallucinations) and Paralytic rabies (characterised by paralysis and coma). Furious rabies symptoms are hyperactivity, excitable behaviour, hydrophobia (fear of water), aerophobia (fear of drafts or fresh air) and death that occurs after a few days due to cardio-respiratory arrest. Paralytic rabies runs a less dramatic and usually longer course than the furious form. Symptoms are muscles gradually becoming paralysed, starting at the bite or scratch site, a coma slowly develops, and eventually, death occurs.
FAQs
Inactivated Rabies Vaccine belongs to the category of medicine called immunising agent used to prevent rabies disease. Rabies is caused by a virus called the rabies virus. It is transmitted to humans and other animals through close contact with saliva from infected animals (bites, scratches, licks on broken skin and mucous membranes).
Inactivated Rabies Vaccine works by helping the body produce substances (antibodies) that resist infection from viruses causing rabies.
Yes, Inactivated Rabies Vaccine is safe and potent and can be given to pregnant women. It does not affect fetal development during pregnancy. However, If you are pregnant, Inform your doctor before receiving the vaccine.
The common sign and symptoms of rabies in humans include pain or itching at the site of the bite wound, fever, hydrophobia (fear of water), intolerance to noise, bright light or air, irritability and depression, at a later stage the mere sight of water may provoke spasms in the neck and throat.
Rabies is an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans, which is caused by a rabies virus. Rabies has two forms: frantic and paralytic. Frantic rabies is the most common form of human rabies.
No. Inactivated Rabies Vaccine contains killed (inactive) rabies virus particles and cannot cause rabies infection. Its purpose is to help your immune system recognize and fight the virus if you are exposed in the future.
Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. If available, apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine and seek medical attention immediately. Your healthcare provider will determine whether you need rabies vaccination, rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), or additional treatment.
The number of doses depends on whether you are receiving Inactivated Rabies Vaccine before or after exposure and whether you have been vaccinated previously. Common schedules include: • Pre-exposure: Days 0, 7, and 21 or 28 • Post-exposure (not previously vaccinated): Days 0, 3, 7, and 14 • Post-exposure (previously vaccinated): Days 0 and 3 Always follow the schedule recommended by your healthcare provider.
Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) provides immediate antibodies against rabies while your body develops its own protection from Inactivated Rabies Vaccine. It is typically given with the first vaccine dose (Day 0) to people who have never been vaccinated and have experienced a significant exposure.
There is no proven direct interaction between alcohol and Inactivated Rabies Vaccine. However, limiting alcohol intake during the vaccination period may help support your immune system and make it easier to recognize any vaccine-related side effects.
In adults and older children, Inactivated Rabies Vaccine is usually injected into the upper arm. In infants and young children, it is typically given in the outer side of the upper thigh. It should not be administered in the buttocks because this may reduce its effectiveness.
Protection can last for several years. People at ongoing risk of exposure, such as veterinarians and animal handlers, may require periodic booster doses or antibody testing as recommended by their healthcare provider.
Yes. Mild illnesses, such as a common cold or a low-grade fever, usually do not prevent vaccination. However, people with severe illness or a high fever may be advised to postpone pre-exposure vaccination until they recover.
If you have previously completed a rabies vaccination series, you will generally need only two booster doses on Days 0 and 3 after a new exposure. Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) is usually not required in previously vaccinated individuals.
