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How Effective Is Rabies Vaccination In Preventing An Infection?

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Posted on Mon, 3 Aug 2015
Question: Gm sir!! After having all the discussion with you as I'm anxious and panicked I went to the doctor who prescribed me three doses of rabies vaccination he told me that I'm completely safe as I have follow that protocol!!but he told me after ur anxiety and Panickness he told me that complete your immunozation so that no question remain in my mind?he given me 4 dose tomorrow and 5 dose after a week he told me now there should be no Panick and anxiety as 5 doses are maximum given to anyone?he told me now ur protected for future also for 6 month??is he right that future protection now also available and now i can remain calm?

And sir one more question will delay in the days make it less effective or have the significance?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
For peace of mind you may complete the remaining course

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking once again but your panic is apparent from your words. If the dog had been rabid, and if the vaccination lacked effectivity, you would have been DEAD by now as rabies is a lethal disease. In fact the vaccine that you have been talking about, would not have been adequate if you had actually contracted rabies, since the vaccine takes several days to build the immunity in the body. In case of rabies transmission, rabies immunoglobulin needs to be given immediately for immediate effect. The post exposure vaccine that you have taken, needs to be taken within 10 days and so I do not think completing the course now would give you extra benefits. But if you are apprehensive, you can definitely complete the remaining vaccines. Let me assure you that your fear is out of proportion to the actual threat and I would strongly insist you to relax. The vaccines that you have already taken and are to take, would impart an immunity that would last years. Ideally, boosters are to be given only if the immunity drops below a certain level but giving a simple booster is safer. The vaccines that you have taken already have already been effective in 21 days from the day it was initially given. So you should definitely remain calm.

The following link should be helpful for you:
http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/rabies/risk/preexposure.html

Let me know in case of any further queries and I would be glad to help.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Thank you sir for your detalied answer now sir I knew nothing is there I have just taken that vaccination in Panick sir the 4 dose so sir if I don't take 5 dose it will be good as it now don't have any reason to take that dose or I go for that dose?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Go for the 5th dose

Detailed Answer:
I think that you should not skip the 5th dose and compromise the peace of mind. Being tension free is very important rather than leaving a 'what if'.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (6 minutes later)
No sir now no if remain in my mind just tell me straight forward that going for 5 vaccination make any sense or not?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (44 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You may skip the dose if you have your mental peace

Detailed Answer:
In terms of the requirement of immunity, I do not feel it essential. It was because you were panicking, I suggested you to do whatever frees you from your worries.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (6 minutes later)
Ok thank you sir now I'm not panic I XXXXXXX taken this topic as a madness and it's just disturb my routine works very badly??now I knew nothing is there but to be on XXXXXXX side yesterday i went through a test and given my blood sample for antibody test of rabies which result come in 8-9 day sir what test is that now sir I knew I have made a mistake my investing 2800 rupees for that??sir what type of test is that and it's show my antibody?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
The antibody test would not be very helpful.

Detailed Answer:
Glad to know that you now understand and that you are no longer panicking. Since you have already given the blood for antibody test, I do not think that there is any point discussing about it. But I find it a meaningless waste. Firstly, it is not an 'investment' since you are not going to 'gain returns' from it. What you are testing for is whether the rabies vaccination has imparted immunity to you which in any case it would. The test would not reveal if you have rabies virus in your body. The rabies virus is taken up by the nerve endings and are transferred by retrograde axonal transport i.e. through the nerve fibres and in case of latent rabies (which you fear), it will not be getting into the blood stream anyway and hence there would be no changes in any parameter including the antibody tests you have done. All the test will indicate is increased amount of antibody response to the vaccine.

Once again I would insist not to give any further thoughts to the rabies issue. Return back to your normal livelihood and everything would be fine.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3875 Questions

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How Effective Is Rabies Vaccination In Preventing An Infection?

Brief Answer: For peace of mind you may complete the remaining course Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking once again but your panic is apparent from your words. If the dog had been rabid, and if the vaccination lacked effectivity, you would have been DEAD by now as rabies is a lethal disease. In fact the vaccine that you have been talking about, would not have been adequate if you had actually contracted rabies, since the vaccine takes several days to build the immunity in the body. In case of rabies transmission, rabies immunoglobulin needs to be given immediately for immediate effect. The post exposure vaccine that you have taken, needs to be taken within 10 days and so I do not think completing the course now would give you extra benefits. But if you are apprehensive, you can definitely complete the remaining vaccines. Let me assure you that your fear is out of proportion to the actual threat and I would strongly insist you to relax. The vaccines that you have already taken and are to take, would impart an immunity that would last years. Ideally, boosters are to be given only if the immunity drops below a certain level but giving a simple booster is safer. The vaccines that you have taken already have already been effective in 21 days from the day it was initially given. So you should definitely remain calm. The following link should be helpful for you: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/rabies/risk/preexposure.html Let me know in case of any further queries and I would be glad to help. Regards