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How Long Is A Rabies Vaccination Effective?
Question: Sir/Madam, in the year 2012 while feeding my pet dog I got a scratch on my index finger of left hand. I took vaccine but after first two vaccines my schedule got disrupted. Though I completed 5 vaccine course but not in the schedule for rabies vaccine. Am I in danger of getting rabies in my future life. My dog was fine till 2015 when he died of food poisoning. As I have read that the quarantine to test rabies in dogs is for 10-15 days, if it is so then I am fine or not. If quarantine holds true then why people take vaccines after every exposure as every dog is not rabid.
Brief Answer:
No chance of rabies since you are fully immunized.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand the concern.
First of all,I would like to assure that you will not get rabies for next 5 to 6 years since you have completed the full course of rabies vaccine in 2012.
XXXXXXX vaccine is effective almost 100% with effect from the first dose itself (dose 0) and once you complete all the 5 doses, you will be protected for about 5 to 10 yeas with this vaccine as antibodies remain in blood throughout this time period against the rabies virus.
So,you are NOT in danger of getting rabies for at least up to 2018 means you are fully immunized till this time.
I may agree with you that quarantine time period for dog is 10 to 15 days but when a person got bitten by rabid dogs (suppose),he starts showing symptoms (like fevers, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, flu) usually within 5 days or sometimes within 2 days following exposure.
And the incubation period of rabies ranges from 7 days to 1 month. (rarely up to 1-2 years)
That is the reason, we usually recommend to take rabies vaccine within 1 or 2 days (irrespective the status of dog for rabies or we should not wait for 10 days quarantine for dog) for a precautionary measures and for a safer side.
In your case,you are fully immunized for rabies,so there is almost no chance of getting rabies in your case.(Rabies is extremely rare today)
In future,suppose if there is a dog bite then you will only need booster dose.
Hope this answers your question.Let me know if you have more doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip kabra
No chance of rabies since you are fully immunized.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Welcome to HCM.
I have read your query and understand the concern.
First of all,I would like to assure that you will not get rabies for next 5 to 6 years since you have completed the full course of rabies vaccine in 2012.
XXXXXXX vaccine is effective almost 100% with effect from the first dose itself (dose 0) and once you complete all the 5 doses, you will be protected for about 5 to 10 yeas with this vaccine as antibodies remain in blood throughout this time period against the rabies virus.
So,you are NOT in danger of getting rabies for at least up to 2018 means you are fully immunized till this time.
I may agree with you that quarantine time period for dog is 10 to 15 days but when a person got bitten by rabid dogs (suppose),he starts showing symptoms (like fevers, chills, fatigue, muscle aches, flu) usually within 5 days or sometimes within 2 days following exposure.
And the incubation period of rabies ranges from 7 days to 1 month. (rarely up to 1-2 years)
That is the reason, we usually recommend to take rabies vaccine within 1 or 2 days (irrespective the status of dog for rabies or we should not wait for 10 days quarantine for dog) for a precautionary measures and for a safer side.
In your case,you are fully immunized for rabies,so there is almost no chance of getting rabies in your case.(Rabies is extremely rare today)
In future,suppose if there is a dog bite then you will only need booster dose.
Hope this answers your question.Let me know if you have more doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Sandip kabra
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Sir, I took vaccine but my schedule was completely disturbed like the vaccine which I suppose to take on 7 day, I took it on 14 day. So, will it affect the vaccine response. Sir, is the quarantine of 10-15 days is 100% true. Why it is recommended to vaccinate pets against rabies as they remain always in house and do not interact with stray dogs, so they will not get rabies. As I got exposed from my pet and after exposure he lived for three years which is not at all possible for a rabid dog to live. So, whether I will be infected with rabies in my life irrespective of my vaccine. If I would not have taken vaccine then what would have been the condition as my pet was fine till three years after exposure in 2012.
Brief Answer:
You will not get infected with rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for immediate response,
Disturbed vaccine schedule will not affect your immunity, so you can consider yourself fully immunized.
Quarantine time is 10 to 15 days and all the pets are immunized to rabies vaccine because dogs are more susceptible to get rabies than humans and also rabies virus is spread through their saliva easily.
So, all pets must be immunized to rabies even they do not interact with straw dogs.
As I already told you are fully immunized and rabies immunity may last for 5 to 10 years, so till this time you will not get rabies even if you will have further exposure with rabid animal.You will have to take a booster shot in future if there is an exposure again.
Lastly, since your pet dog was non-rabid,you were at absolutely NO risk even you had not taken vaccine.
Hope this answers all your query.
Regards,
You will not get infected with rabies.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for immediate response,
Disturbed vaccine schedule will not affect your immunity, so you can consider yourself fully immunized.
Quarantine time is 10 to 15 days and all the pets are immunized to rabies vaccine because dogs are more susceptible to get rabies than humans and also rabies virus is spread through their saliva easily.
So, all pets must be immunized to rabies even they do not interact with straw dogs.
As I already told you are fully immunized and rabies immunity may last for 5 to 10 years, so till this time you will not get rabies even if you will have further exposure with rabid animal.You will have to take a booster shot in future if there is an exposure again.
Lastly, since your pet dog was non-rabid,you were at absolutely NO risk even you had not taken vaccine.
Hope this answers all your query.
Regards,
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Sir, consider a situation, if somebody has got a exposure from a dog not a bite just a scratch while playing or feeding a dog whether it is a pet or a stray dog and if person don't take any vaccine and depends on a quarantine of 10-15 days and dog remain normal then is that person is safe. Here I am telling only a scratch not a bite because normally dogs do not bite and only a rabid dog bites without no reason.
Brief Answer:
Yes,that person is safe.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If the bitten dog is a pet or remains normal in quarantine then that person is completely safe.
And rabies very rare nowadays or through just scratch, it is almost impossible to transmit rabies.
Means there is no need to take vaccine if the dog is immunized.
Regards,
Yes,that person is safe.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
If the bitten dog is a pet or remains normal in quarantine then that person is completely safe.
And rabies very rare nowadays or through just scratch, it is almost impossible to transmit rabies.
Means there is no need to take vaccine if the dog is immunized.
Regards,
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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