What is rabies vaccine?
Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus. Rabies is mainly a disease of animals. Humans get rabies when they are bitten by an infected animal. There may be no symptoms at first, but weeks or even years after a bite from an infected animal, rabies can cause pain, fatigue, headaches, irritability, fever, seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Rabies can be fatal.
You are more likely to be exposed to the rabies virus if you are a veterinarian, animal handler, rabies laboratory worker, or may otherwise come into contact with animals that could possibly carry the virus (including cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, and bats). Travel to certain countries may also increase your risk of exposure to rabies.
Rabies purified chick embryo cell vaccine is used to prevent rabies in people who have been bitten by an animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus.
What is the most important information I should know about rabies vaccine?
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive another vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects. Getting rabies disease is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects. The risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
You can still receive a rabies vaccine if you have a cold or other minor illness. If you have a more severe illness with a fever, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine. However, if you have been bitten by an infected animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus, you should receive the rabies vaccine regardless of having another illness.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving rabies vaccine?
Do not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine.
If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this vaccine:
any type of infection or severe illness;
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection;
a weak immune system caused by disease or by taking certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments;
if you are taking medicine to treat or prevent malaria; or
if you are allergic to pork or chicken.
You can still receive a rabies vaccine if you have a cold or other minor illness. If you have a more severe illness with a fever, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine. However, if you have been bitten by an infected animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus, you should receive the rabies vaccine regardless of having another illness.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine is harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive a rabies vaccine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether rabies vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Rabies vaccine purified chick embryo cell (Rabavert) contains a small amount of albumin from human blood and may contain viruses and other infectious agents that can cause disease. Although donated human blood is screened, tested, and treated to reduce the risk of it containing anything that could cause disease, there is still a small possibility it could transmit disease. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of receiving this vaccine.