Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Rabies Vaccination
Pronounced (RAY-beez)
Preexposure vaccination is recommended for persons in high-risk groups, such as veterinarians, animal handlers, and certain laboratory workers. Although preexposure vaccination does not eliminate the need for additional medical attention after a rabies exposure, it can decrease the number of vaccine doses needed, and it minimizes adverse reactions to multiple doses of vaccine. More...
NEW: On June 20, 2008, CDC issued a HAN Advisory announcing a temporary decrease in human rabies vaccine supply July 2, 2008
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- About the disease
Brief description of symptoms, etc. - Questions and Answers
- Pictures of Rabies
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Video
clips of Rabies (exit)
Warning: Some of these videos are extremely disturbing! - CDC Kids Rabies, KidsHealth, (exit) and Just for kids
- Travelers information
Concerns about risks for travelers, preexposure vaccination, etc.
- Rabies in Transplant Recipients: Organ Transplant Concerns
More can be found in the Rabies News section - Recall of Rabies Vaccine (Human Diploid Cell), Imovax Rabies
Aventis Pasteur - April 2, 2004 (exit)
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Are vaccines safe? (exit)
FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website
It should be noted that there are no contraindications for those truly exposed to rabies. Therefore, the "who should not be vaccinated" information is relevent for routine pre-exposure only.
For Health Professionals
Clinical
- Diagnosis
- Prevention and Control
- Epidemiology
- Ask the Experts (exit)
CDC experts (medial officers, medical epidemiologists, etc.) - NIPINFO answers your questions about Rabies
- Immunization of Healthcare Workers
- Rabies Prevention and Control: Healthcare Settings
Recommendations
References and Resources
- Professional resources
- Travelers Health: Yellow Book
- Infection control guidelines
- References
- Surveillance and Specimen Collection
- News and highlights about Rabies
Provider Education
Materials for Patients
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Content last reviewed on March 21, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases