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VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT Rabies Vaccine What You Need to Know 1 What is rabies? Rabies is a serious disease. It is caused by a virus. Rabies is mainly a disease of animals. Humans get rabies when they are bitten by infected animals. At first there might not be any symptoms. But weeks, or even months after a bite, rabies can cause pain, fatigue, headaches, fever, and irritability. These are followed by seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Human rabies is almost always fatal. Wild animals — especially bats —are the most common source of human rabies infection in the United States. Skunks, raccoons, dogs, cats, coyotes, foxes and other mammals can also transmit the disease. Human rabies is rare in the United States. There have been only 55 cases diagnosed since 1990. However, between 16,000 and 39,000 people are vaccinated each year as a precaution after animal bites. Also, rabies is far more common in other parts of the world, with about 40,000- 70,000 rabies - related deaths worldwide each year. Bites from unvaccinated dogs cause most of these cases. Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies. 2 1 Rabies vaccine Rabies vaccine is given to people at high risk of rabies to protect them if they are exposed. It can also prevent the disease if it is given to a person after they have been exposed. Rabies vaccine is made from killed rabies virus. It cannot cause rabies. Many Vaccine Information Statements are available in Spanish and other languages. See www.immunize.org/vis Hojas de informacion sobre vacunas estan disponibles en espanol y en muchos otros idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org /vis EWho should get rabies vaccine and when? Preventive vaccination (no exposure) People at high risk of exposure to rabies, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, rabies laboratory workers, spelunkers, and rabies biologics production workers should be offered rabies vaccine. • The vaccine should also be considered for: - People whose activities bring them into frequent contact with rabies virus or with possibly rabid animals. - International travelers who are likely to come in contact with animals in parts of the world where rabies is common. The pre- exposure schedule for rabies vaccination is 3 doses, given at the following times: Dose 1: As appropriate Dose 2: 7 days after Dose 1 Dose 3: 21 days or 28 days after Dose I For laboratory workers and others who may be repeatedly exposed to rabies virus, periodic testing for immunity is recommended, and booster doses should be given as needed. (Testing or booster doses are not recommended for travelers.) Ask your doctor for details. Vaccination after an exposure Anyone who has been bitten by an animal, or who otherwise may have been exposed to rabies, should clean the wound and see a doctor immediately. The doctor will determine if they need to be vaccinated. A person who is exposed and has never been vaccinated against rabies should get 4 doses of rabies vaccine —one dose right away, and additional doses on the 3rd, 7th, and 14th days. They should also get another shot called Rabies Immune Globulin at the same time as the first dose. A person who has been previously vaccinated should get 2 doses of rabies vaccine —one right away and another on the 3rd day. Rabies Immune Globulin is not needed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention