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Generic Name: rabies vaccine, human diploid cell (RAY beez vax EEN, HUE man DYE ploid sel)Brand Names: Imovax Rabies
Rabies is a serious disease caused by a virus. Rabies is mainly a disease of animals. Humans get rabies when they are bitten by an infected animal. There may be no symptoms at first, but weeks or even years after a bite from an infected animal, rabies can cause pain, fatigue, headaches, irritability, fever, seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Rabies can be fatal.
You are more likely to be exposed to the rabies virus if you are a veterinarian, animal handler, rabies laboratory worker, or may otherwise come into contact with animals that could possibly carry the virus (including cats, dogs, foxes, skunks, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, and bats). Travel to certain countries may also increase your risk of exposure to rabies.
Rabies human diploid cell vaccine is used to prevent rabies in people who have been bitten by an animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive another vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects. Getting rabies disease is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects. The risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
You can still receive a rabies vaccine if you have a cold or other minor illness. If you have a more severe illness with a fever, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine. However, if you have been bitten by an infected animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus, you should receive the rabies vaccine regardless of having another illness.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving rabies vaccine?Do not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine.If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely receive this vaccine:
any type of infection or severe illness;
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection;
a weak immune system caused by disease or by taking certain medicines or receiving cancer treatments; or
if you are taking medicine to treat or prevent malaria.
You can still receive a rabies vaccine if you have a cold or other minor illness. If you have a more severe illness with a fever, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine. However, if you have been bitten by an infected animal or otherwise exposed to the rabies virus, you should receive the rabies vaccine regardless of having another illness.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine is harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether rabies vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.Rabies human diploid cell vaccine is given as an injection into a muscle. You will receive this injection in your doctor's office or other clinic setting. A doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection.
For preventing rabies if you are at risk of exposure, you will need to receive a total of 3 injections. The second injection is usually given 7 days after the first, followed by a third injection 2 or 3 weeks later.
Depending on your risk of exposure to rabies, you may need to receive the rabies vaccine series every 2 years. If you work around live rabies virus, such as in a laboratory or a vaccine production area, you may need to receive a booster rabies vaccine every 6 months.
For treating rabies after you have been bitten or exposed, you will need to receive a total of 6 injections. The injections are usually given on Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 90. At the beginning of your treatment you may also receive a second injection with a rabies anti-serum or immune globulin (im-YOON GLOB-yoo-lin). This medicine is sometimes injected into or near the bite wound or injury where the rabies virus is likely to have entered your body.
Follow your doctor's instructions for your injection schedule.Contact your doctor if you miss an appointment to receive your rabies vaccine.
An overdose of rabies vaccine is unlikely to occur.
There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving rabies vaccine.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. When you receive another vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects. Getting rabies disease is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects. The risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:fever, chills, weakness, body aches, flu symptoms;
joint pain; or
vomiting.
Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:
pain, swelling, itching, or redness where the shot was given;
headache;
dizziness;
muscle pain; or
nausea, stomach pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.
Usual Adult Dose for Rabies Prophylaxis:
Preexposure Prophylaxis:1 mL IM for a total of 3 doses on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28.Postexposure prophylaxis:Not previously vaccinated:1 mL IM for a total of 5 doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. ( ACIP Provisional Recommendations, 2009,: 1 mL/dose for 4 doses, on days 0, 3, 7, 14 with immunocompromised patients to receive a fifth dose on day 28). Rabies immune globulin should also be administered on day 0 at 20 units/kg (half of this is infiltrated at bite site if possible, and the remainder is administered IM).Previously vaccinated: 1 mL IM for a total of 2 doses on days 0 and 3. Do not administer rabies immune globulin.Booster:1 mL IM every 2 years or as indicated by antibody titers. People with continuing high risk of exposure such as certain veterinarians, should have their serum tested for rabies antibodies every 2 years; others working with live rabies in laboratories or vaccine production facilities and who are at risk of inapparent exposure should be tested every 6 months.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Rabies Prophylaxis:
Preexposure Prophylaxis:1 mL IM for a total of 3 doses on days 0, 7, and 21 or 28.Postexposure prophylaxis:Not previously vaccinated:1 mL IM for a total of 5 doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. ( ACIP Provisional Recommendations, 2009,: 1 mL/dose for 4 doses, on days 0, 3, 7, 14 with immunocompromised patients to receive a fifth dose on day 28). Rabies immune globulin should also be administered on day 0 at 20 units/kg (half of this is infiltrated at bite site if possible, and the remainder is administered IM).Previously vaccinated: 1 mL IM for a total of 2 doses on days 0 and 3. Do not administer rabies immune globulin.Booster:1 mL IM every 2 years or as indicated by antibody titers. People with continuing high risk of exposure such as certain veterinarians, should have their serum tested for rabies antibodies every 2 years; others working with live rabies in laboratories or vaccine production facilities and who are at risk of inapparent exposure should be tested every 6 months.
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
chemotherapy or radiation cancer treatments;
cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune, Gengraf);
sirolimus (Rapamune), tacrolimus (Prograf);
basiliximab (Simulect), efalizumab (Raptiva), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone);
mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept);
azathioprine (Imuran), leflunomide (Arava), etanercept (Enbrel);
a steroid medicine such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone, others), or triamcinolone (Aristocort); or
an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort).
If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to receive rabies vaccine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect rabies vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use, and other vaccines you receive. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.