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Is Double Dose Of Rabies Vaccine Safe?
Question: Just finished the full post exposure rabies vaccine four days ago and something flew into leg do I need to get another set of vaccines? Please help
Brief Answer:
Two doses of the vaccine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although it is likely of no benefit because you've completed your prophylaxis very recently, the CDC guidelines suggest having two more doses of the vaccine, one on day 0 and one more on day 3. No immunoglobulin is needed.
Kind Regards!
Two doses of the vaccine
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
although it is likely of no benefit because you've completed your prophylaxis very recently, the CDC guidelines suggest having two more doses of the vaccine, one on day 0 and one more on day 3. No immunoglobulin is needed.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Is is harmful to get two more doses so close since had my first booster Sat the 11th and then Tuesday the 14th?I
Brief Answer:
Not more than the usual risk for side-effects
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
the risk for side-effects is the same. 6% of each booster dose carries the risk for fever, arthralgia and rash, while a 5-40% may experience myalgia, headache, dizziness and other system or local symptoms. And as I've already pointed out, there's likely no serious benefit because vaccination normally induces adequate immune response for a couple of years. Despite that current guidelines suggest that in immunized individuals the two doses have to be done again.
Kind Regards!
Not more than the usual risk for side-effects
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
the risk for side-effects is the same. 6% of each booster dose carries the risk for fever, arthralgia and rash, while a 5-40% may experience myalgia, headache, dizziness and other system or local symptoms. And as I've already pointed out, there's likely no serious benefit because vaccination normally induces adequate immune response for a couple of years. Despite that current guidelines suggest that in immunized individuals the two doses have to be done again.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So it basically makes no sense to get two more boosters...however t
Brief Answer:
Probably not but you can't be sure
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
the rationale for prophylaxis is to induce a fast antibody response. If the antibody response in your case was adequate with the 4 or 5 dose vaccinations then no benefit is expected from the two additional doses. If it wasn't adequate though, then the two doses wouldn't have gone amiss.
An adequate antibody response is defined as antibody titers equal or higher than 0.5 IU/mL but I guess you haven't measured your antibody titers because it's not a routine test after vaccination.
Also please take into account that a very important part of rabies treatment is wound irrigation and the type of exposure (bite or no bite). I've focused on your questions but if no bite was involved at such a recent time after vaccination then the benefit from additional treatment is doubtful.
I hope I've clarified the issue to you!
Kind Regards!
Probably not but you can't be sure
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
the rationale for prophylaxis is to induce a fast antibody response. If the antibody response in your case was adequate with the 4 or 5 dose vaccinations then no benefit is expected from the two additional doses. If it wasn't adequate though, then the two doses wouldn't have gone amiss.
An adequate antibody response is defined as antibody titers equal or higher than 0.5 IU/mL but I guess you haven't measured your antibody titers because it's not a routine test after vaccination.
Also please take into account that a very important part of rabies treatment is wound irrigation and the type of exposure (bite or no bite). I've focused on your questions but if no bite was involved at such a recent time after vaccination then the benefit from additional treatment is doubtful.
I hope I've clarified the issue to you!
Kind Regards!
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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