VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many vaccine information statements are 

available in Spanish and other languages. 

See www.immunize.org/vis

Hojas de información sobre vacunas están 

disponibles en español y en muchos otros 

idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

Rabies Vaccine:

What You Need to Know

1. Why get vaccinated?

Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies.

Rabies is a serious illness that almost always results 

in death.

Rabies virus infects the central nervous system. 

Symptoms may occur from days to years after 

exposure to the virus and include delirium 

(confusion), abnormal behavior, hallucinations, 

hydrophobia (fear of water), and insomnia (difficulty 

sleeping), which precede coma and death.

People can get rabies if they have contact with the 

saliva or neural tissue of an infected animal, for 

example through a bite or scratch, and do not receive 

appropriate medical care, including rabies vaccine.

2. Rabies vaccine

Certain people with a higher risk for rabies 

exposures, such as those who work with potentially 

infected animals, are recommended to receive 

vaccine to help prevent rabies if an exposure 

happens. If you are at higher risk of exposure to the 

rabies virus:

 You should receive 2 doses of rabies vaccine given 

on days 0 and 7.

 Depending on your level of risk, you may be 

advised to have one or more blood tests or 

receive a booster dose within 3 years after the 

first 2 doses. Your health care provider can give 

you more details.

Rabies vaccine can prevent rabies if given to a 

person after an exposure. After an exposure or 

potential exposure to rabies, the wound site should 

be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. If your 

health care provider or local health department 

recommend vaccination, the vaccine should be 

given as soon as possible after an exposure but may 

be effective any time before symptoms begin. Once 

symptoms begin, rabies vaccine is no longer helpful 

in preventing rabies.

 If you have not been vaccinated against rabies 

in the past, you need 4 doses of rabies vaccine 

over 2 weeks (given on days 0, 3, 7, and 14). You 

should also get another medication called rabies 

immunoglobulin on the day you receive the first 

dose of rabies vaccine or soon afterwards.

 If you have received rabies vaccination in the past, 

you typically need only 2 doses of rabies vaccine 

after an exposure.

Rabies vaccine may be given at the same time as 

other vaccines.

3. Talk with your health care 

provider

Tell your vaccination provider if the person getting 

the vaccine:

 Has had an allergic reaction after a previous 

dose of rabies vaccine, or has any severe, lifethreatening allergies

 Has a weakened immune system

 Is taking or plans to take chloroquine or a drug 

related to chloroquine

 Has received rabies vaccine in the past (your 

provider will need to know when you received any 

rabies vaccine doses in the past)

In some cases, your health care provider may 

decide to postpone routine (pre-exposure) rabies 

vaccination until a future visit. Or your health care 

provider may perform a blood test before or after 

rabies vaccines are given to determine your level of 

immunity against rabies.
OFFICE 

USE 6/02/2022 ONLY

Vaccine Information Statement

Rabies Vaccine

People with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be 

vaccinated. People who are moderately or severely ill 

should usually wait until they recover before getting 

a routine (pre-exposure) dose of rabies vaccine. If 

you have been exposed to rabies virus, you should 

get vaccinated regardless of concurrent illnesses, 

pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weakened immune 

system.

Your health care provider can give you more 

information.

4. Risks of a vaccine reaction

 Soreness, redness, swelling, or itching at the site 

of the injection, and headache, nausea, abdominal 

pain, muscle aches, or dizziness can happen after 

rabies vaccine.

 Hives, pain in the joints, or fever sometimes 

happen after booster doses.

People sometimes faint after medical procedures, 

including vaccination. Tell your provider if you feel 

dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance 

of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other 

serious injury, or death.

5. What if there is a serious 

problem?

An allergic reaction could occur after the vaccinated 

person leaves the clinic. If you see signs of a 

severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face 

and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, 

dizziness, or weakness), call 9-1-1 and get the person 

to the nearest hospital.

For other signs that concern you, call your health 

care provider.

Adverse reactions should be reported to the Vaccine 

Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your 

health care provider will usually file this report, or 

you can do it yourself. Visit the VAERS website at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov or call 1-800-822-7967. VAERS 

is only for reporting reactions, and VAERS staff 

members do not give medical advice.

6. How can I learn more?

 Ask your health care provider.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Visit the website of the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) for vaccine package inserts 

and additional information at www.fda.gov/

vaccines-blood-biologics/vaccines.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

-Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

-Visit CDC’s rabies website at www.cdc.gov/rabies