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Is Repetition Of Anti-rabies Vaccination Required For A Bat Bite After 2 Days?

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Posted on Tue, 2 Aug 2016
Question: Due to last month bat exposure i have taken 5 course of rabies vaccine Abhay rab that is completed on 6-7-16,the last dose was on 6-7-16..But 2 days later i.e on 8-7-16 i was sitting outside in balcony a bat went flying on near by my body,later i checked my body i found their is a cut mark Like line but i dont know it is due to bat or from earlier due to rashes by hot weather,it was just a scratch mark,Q-If it was bat scratch then again i have to take vaccine??or the earlier vaccine will protect me???
i visited to a nearby physician he told no need to take vaccine as i am immunised and completed my 5th dose vaccine 2 days before of the incident..But i decided to ask my question here..please help me sir
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
You have the immunity. Subsequently only boosters would be required.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. Mammals, be it dogs, humans or bats, are susceptible to rabies (that does not mean that each one has rabies). You have completed the course of antirabies vaccination and so you already have the immunity and do not need a separate vaccination schedule. If a reasonable period of time had elapsed after the vaccination all you would have needed is a two shot booster. Immunity from anti-rabies vaccine has been shown to last from 5-25 years. Going through the following link should help:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/

The WHO recommends a 2 shot booster vaccination on day 1 and 3 without rabies immuunglobuline after earlier vaccination, but I think that is when the first vaccination is some years before.
http://www.who.int/rabies/human/prevvaccperson/en/

If you want to maintain a good antibody levels, because you work/live in a high risk environment, the British NHS recommends a booster shot one year after the last shot, after that every three to five years intervals.
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rabies/Pages/Prevention.aspx

Hoping that to help.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (3 hours later)
Sir i am not geting my answer..

Due to last month bat exposure i have taken 5 course of rabies vaccine Abhay rab that is completed on 6-7-16,the last dose was on 6-7-16..
But 2 days later i.e on 8-7-16 i was sitting outside in balcony a bat went flying on near by my body,later i checked my body i found their is a cut mark Like scratch but i dont know it is due to bat or from earlier due to rashes by hot weather,it was just a scratch mark,
Q-If it was bat scratch then again i have to take vaccine booster??or the earlier vaccine will protect me???

ONE IMPORTANT THING-
The 5 vaccine course of Abhay rab due to last month exposure i have taken in govt hosipital i mean 4 i have taken in govt hospital but the 5th dose i have to take from outside private pharmacy because vaccine was not their in govt hospital so i took the 5th dose from outside private pharmacy on 6-7-16.

Q1-I saw in the private pharmacy that they have kept the vaccines in lower tray of the freeze,i mean sabse niche wala tray me rakkha hua tha vaccine,So will the vaccine will be effective?

Q2-If 5th dose was not effective then my 4th dose was on 22-06-16,and the new bat incident was of 8-7-16.
Will the 4th dose vaccine of 22-6-16,will protect me for the 8-7-16 exposure??

I am not worried about last month exposure i am worried about the new exposure of 8-7-16
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Booster dose(s) can be taken.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. Since it is just 2 days after the completion of previous vaccination, no booster is required. However, if you feel apprehensive, you can take the booster dose(s) and that would be enough to protect you.

The vaccine kept in the lower tray of the refrigerator should be no less effective.

As mentioned, the overall immunity imparted by the sum total of the vaccination should be enough to protect you. Nevertheless, you can take the booster dose(s) to feel safe.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Priyanka G Raj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (8 hours later)
Sir due to last month exposure i have taken 4 Abhay rab vaccine in govt hospital and the 5th dose i took from outside private pharmacy..and in private pharmacy they used to turn off their freeze at night..
The 5th dose was on 6-7-16.

Again on 8-7-16 a bat flew near by my body,later i checked their was a cut mark in my chest but i am not sure it was due to bat or from earlier..

So my worry is that if the earlier 5th vaccine of 6-7-16 was not effective due to my doubt as i have mentioned earlier,then the 4 th dose that was on 22-6-16 will protect me for the incident/case of 8-7-16??((18 days after))

If some one has taken a full course of 4 vaccine then how long it protects for new exposure so that no booster dose is needed.
Does the earlier Anti rabies vaccine protects for 1-2 months new exposure without Booster dose.???

Question-is their any time interval in which earlier vaccines will protect without booster dose???
if yes then what is the time interval in which booster dose is not required for new exposure???
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Questions answered one by one

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for clarifying.
If they used to turn off the fridge, the cold chain has not been maintained and the efficacy of the vaccine would be questionable. However, I doubt if a pharmacy would ever do such a stupid thing.

Let me remark that rabies is a lethal disease. So, if any one of the agents were actually rabid and if your immunity was inadequate, you would have been DEAD or at least severely rabid and not doing this discussion right now with me. So, I would insist you to relax and not panic. The course of 4 vaccines imparts a reasonable amount of immunity and the fifth dose is not mandatory anyway. In anycase, it would impart an immunity for at least one month without requiring a booster dose.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (17 hours later)
Sir yesterday i had consulted with a doctor he precribed me to take 2 booster dose..
1 i have taken yesterday..
Sir last week only i have completed 5 course of vaccine and earlier also i have taken many anti rabies vaccines from 2008-2012 i have taken total 12 rabies vaccine,and also last week i have completed 5 Course of Abhyarb.

Q1-So as now i am again taking 2 booster dose so will be their any harmful reaction or side effect of over dose reaction??If yes then in how many days??is their any test to know the side effects or over dose reaction???

Q2-Sir yesterday at 11am i took Booster dose abhay rab and at night i went to a function in a filed at night,now i have seen their is a cut mark in my Leg,now again i am worring if any dog has scratch or bite me.
Sir i am totally fed up with my life.

If yesterday night it was a dog nail scratch then again i have to start the 2 booster dose???
Or as yesterday at 11am i have taken one booster dose and on 15-7-16 i have to take the 2nd dose that will protect me???

Sir please help me otherwise i will die in tention
i am.sending pic of the cut mark in my leg that may be happened yesterday night when i was in function in the field.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Do not worry so much

Detailed Answer:
1. No harmful effects expected.
2. Stop getting anxious unnecessarily.
3. The existing boosters will cover you.

Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

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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Is Repetition Of Anti-rabies Vaccination Required For A Bat Bite After 2 Days?

Brief Answer: You have the immunity. Subsequently only boosters would be required. Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I have gone through your query and understand your concerns. Mammals, be it dogs, humans or bats, are susceptible to rabies (that does not mean that each one has rabies). You have completed the course of antirabies vaccination and so you already have the immunity and do not need a separate vaccination schedule. If a reasonable period of time had elapsed after the vaccination all you would have needed is a two shot booster. Immunity from anti-rabies vaccine has been shown to last from 5-25 years. Going through the following link should help: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/ The WHO recommends a 2 shot booster vaccination on day 1 and 3 without rabies immuunglobuline after earlier vaccination, but I think that is when the first vaccination is some years before. http://www.who.int/rabies/human/prevvaccperson/en/ If you want to maintain a good antibody levels, because you work/live in a high risk environment, the British NHS recommends a booster shot one year after the last shot, after that every three to five years intervals. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rabies/Pages/Prevention.aspx Hoping that to help. Regards