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Am I Safe From Rabies Inspite Of Having 5 Doses Of Rabies Vaccine?

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Posted on Mon, 7 Sep 2015
Question: my question is regarding tetanus vaccine . last month my leg is scratched by a dog i went to hospital doctor advised me 5 doses of rabies vaccine (rabipur ) as on day 0,3,7 ,14 ,28 . i take all vaccine as per schedule .but i think doctor forgot tetanus vaccine .now my question is
1)am i safe from rabies ? i m asking this question bcoz doctor forget tetanus vaccine
2)is rabies vaccine is direct relation with tetanus vaccine if somebody forget tetanus vaccine is rabies vaccine is effective?
3)if anybody takes tetanus vaccine now how long this vaccine effective ?
4)is rabies vaccine is effective to patient to whom tetanus vaccine not given after dog bite or a patient to whom recd tetanus vaccine 2 years before dog bite ?
5)is i m safe from rabies after taking 5 doses of rabies vaccine ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Rabies and tetanus vaccines

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.

1)You have taken 5 doses(days 0,3,7,14,28 ) of rabies vaccine (Inj Rabibur). You are fully immunized against rabies. Rabipur (purified inactivated rabies vaccine) is highly immunogenic.

2)Rabies vaccination is against rabies virus and tetanus vaccine is against Tetanus caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. They have no direct or indirect relation. Rabies vaccine remains effective even if someone has missed the dose of tetanus toxoid.

3)If any one takes tetanus vaccine now,it depends on his primary immunization against tetanus ( three doses in infancy, boosters at 4–7 and 12–15 years of age)in childhood. If someone has received primary immunization in childhood ,a booster dose of tetanus toxoid now will give protection for 10 years.

Individuals sustaining tetanus-prone wounds should be immunized if their vaccination status is incomplete or unknown or if their last booster was given >10 years earlier.

4)Rabies vaccine will remain effective irrespective of his immunization status against tetanus.

5)Four 1-mL doses(on days 3, 7, and 14) of rabies vaccine should be given IM in the deltoid area.A fifth dose on day 28 is no longer recommended. However you have taken the booster dose also. Hence you are safe against rabies.

What is the status of the dog ?Is it pet or stray?Has it bitten other persons unprovoked? Is it dead or alive? What is the class of dog bite and which part of the body has been bitten?. Depending upon the class of bite one has to take also rabies immune globulin (RIG). If RIG is not immediately available, it should be administered no later than 7 days after the first vaccine dose.

Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (22 hours later)
1) it means i am safe from rabies ?wheather i received tetanus vaccine or not ?

2) when i gone to hospital after dog bite doctor asked me have u received tetanus vaccine in last 10 years ? i answered yes i received tetanus vaccine 2 years before he said that no requirement of tetanus vaccine is he right?

3)what if in future i again bite by animal i received 5 doses of rabipur now ?is there any safe period after taking rabies vaccine ?if i again bite by rabid animal how many doses of rabipur vaccine required ?

4)every year i go for tracking 2 or 3 times in dense forest area ?i found many dead body of animals in forest ? i want continious protection against rabies ? what i should do for continuous protection against rabies ?in forest sometime we have cut on our hand during tracking ? my main concern is non bite exposure ?

5)is there any restriction for person who recd 5 doses of rabipur vaccine ?is he do yoga ? is he do heavy exercise ? is he donate blood? is he take other vaccine like hepatitis b etc ? if there any restriction of any type please tell me ?

6)if anybody who is bite by animal and taking 5 doses of rabies vaccine but after 2 dose or 3rd dose he again bite by animal than how this person is treated ?

7)u asked me status of dog in answer .the dog bite me is stray dog . doctor said that i dont need HRIG because i previously vaccinated for rabies approx 1 year back in 2014 ?is doctor is right?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Rabies vaccination and miscellaneous queries

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
1) Yes,you are safe from rabies.
2)Yes,it is right.Immunity lasts for 10 years after the last injection of tetanus toxoid.
3)When a previously immunized individual is exposed to rabies, two booster doses of vaccine should be administered on days 0 and 3.
4)Except in adventures in caves infested with bats,there is no non-bite exposure.Inhalation of aerosolized virus created by bats' infected nasal secretions may be an important method of transmission among cave-dwelling bats.Even then although controversial, the use of PEP (Postexposure Prophylaxis) may be warranted when a person ( a sleeping adult) has been present in the same space as a bat and an unrecognized bite cannot be reliably excluded.
However inhaling fixed strains of rabies virus during the preparation of vaccines has caused rabies.
Four doses (on days 3, 7,and 14) gives protection against rabies.
Serum neutralizing antibody tests help determine the need for subsequent booster doses,in future.
Examples:
Laboratory staff and others at high continuing risk of exposure should have their neutralising antibody titres checked every 6 months. If it is less than 0.5 IU/ml a booster dose of vaccine should be given.
5)There is no such restriction as you have mentioned.
6)The same schedule of injection of four doses is followed i.e completion of the course and no additional dose.
7) Stray dog for all practical purposes is rabid dog.Your doctor is right.RIG should not be administered to previously vaccinated persons.






Regards

Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Tushar Kanti Biswas

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1975

Answered : 1920 Questions

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Am I Safe From Rabies Inspite Of Having 5 Doses Of Rabies Vaccine?

Brief Answer: Rabies and tetanus vaccines Detailed Answer: Hi, Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns. 1)You have taken 5 doses(days 0,3,7,14,28 ) of rabies vaccine (Inj Rabibur). You are fully immunized against rabies. Rabipur (purified inactivated rabies vaccine) is highly immunogenic. 2)Rabies vaccination is against rabies virus and tetanus vaccine is against Tetanus caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. They have no direct or indirect relation. Rabies vaccine remains effective even if someone has missed the dose of tetanus toxoid. 3)If any one takes tetanus vaccine now,it depends on his primary immunization against tetanus ( three doses in infancy, boosters at 4–7 and 12–15 years of age)in childhood. If someone has received primary immunization in childhood ,a booster dose of tetanus toxoid now will give protection for 10 years. Individuals sustaining tetanus-prone wounds should be immunized if their vaccination status is incomplete or unknown or if their last booster was given >10 years earlier. 4)Rabies vaccine will remain effective irrespective of his immunization status against tetanus. 5)Four 1-mL doses(on days 3, 7, and 14) of rabies vaccine should be given IM in the deltoid area.A fifth dose on day 28 is no longer recommended. However you have taken the booster dose also. Hence you are safe against rabies. What is the status of the dog ?Is it pet or stray?Has it bitten other persons unprovoked? Is it dead or alive? What is the class of dog bite and which part of the body has been bitten?. Depending upon the class of bite one has to take also rabies immune globulin (RIG). If RIG is not immediately available, it should be administered no later than 7 days after the first vaccine dose. Regards Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D. XXXXXXX