The anti-rabies vaccine is capable of protecting people from catching rabies. People in the following conditions will find it to be most beneficial to take this vaccine.
1. High-risk exposure
People exposed to the risks of rabies should take this vaccine. Professions such as veterinarians, rabies laboratory workers, animal handlers, spelunkers, and rabies biologics production workers are highly exposed to the risks. Therefore, people dealing with such professions should take the vaccine.
2. Travellers and animal lovers
People habituated to travelling frequently should take this vaccine. They are often exposed to infected animals in different parts of the world. Moreover, if you are a pet lover and deal with stray animals frequently, you should consider taking this vaccine.
3. Animal bite
If rabid animals bite you, you should take a rabies vaccine even if you do not see any symptoms.
Now, when it comes to the anti-rabies vaccine dosage for humans, it can be divided into two parts, as discussed below.
This type of vaccine shot is an overall immunity booster to fight against the rabies vaccine. Adults should get three doses of this vaccine, and one dose is equal to 1 mL IM (deltoid region). For children and infants, the dosage will remain three, one dose equivalent to 1 mL IM (deltoid region, in the anterolateral part of the thigh). The schedule of the rabies vaccine should be as follows.
Second dose after seven days of the first one
Third dose after 21-28 days of the second one
The booster dose for adults and children is about 1 ml IM (deltoid region) for maintaining a serum titer > 1:5 serum dilution by RFFIT.
You can take this type of vaccine shot after an animal bite for the possibility of rabies infection. For adults, if they have not been immunised earlier, about five doses are standard, one of which is equal to 1 mL IM. It is also the same in the case of infants. Therefore, you can consider the following schedule for dosage.
Second dose after three days of the first one
Third dose after seven days of the second one
Fourth dose after 14 days the third one
Fifth dose after 28 days of the fourth one
However, if you are already immunised with the pre exposure vaccine, this schedule does not apply to you. You will need only two doses of the post exposure vaccine. Furthermore, you can take the second dose three days after the first one.