Talk:Rabies vaccine

One of the more interesting things about the rabies vaccine is the fact that, unlike most vaccines, it can be administered after exposure. That is; you can go to the doctor and get the vaccine after you've been bitten. This is because rabies has an unusually long incubation time (10 days to 10 years, but usually 2-8 weeks), allowing the body to build up defences if given the vaccine in time. (within 3 days is recommended)

The vaccine itself is not one, but a series of three shots (given on days 0, 7 and 28). It's given in the deltoid muscle. (the shoulder)

The vaccine can be given in advance, to provide immunity, but since it can be given after exposure, it is usually only given to people who are at very high risk of exposure, or if travelling somewhere isolated and high risk, where the vaccine will not be available.

Sorry I cbf logging in to my wikipedia account, I don't do this often enough and forgot my password. You'll just have to deal with my IP address =P

sources here: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/rabies/qandavax.asp http://www.nevdgp.org.au/info/travel/dis/rabies.htm

someone who's a wiki regular please add this info to the page.

thanks in advance! <3 60.240.32.184 (talk) 22:36, 30 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Possible Interesting Addition In its original form I believe this vaccine was injected directly into the spine (through the front of the abdomen). I came here to see if this was (still) the case. Mattbondy (talk) 18:14, 24 June 2010 (UTC)[reply]