Myth Or Fact: Can You Get Rabies Even After Vaccination?

By Vanshika Gaur
04 Apr 2025, 19:30 IST

Rabies is a disease that can be transmitted to humans through the bite of a rabid animal, specifically dogs. Fortunately, it can be treated with a rabies vaccine. However, this raises an important question ‘Can you still get rabies after vaccination?’. Tap to find out!

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a disease that can be transmitted to humans by a dog bite, which affects the brain and nerves. It becomes fatal once the symptoms appear.

Symptoms Of Rabies

Rabies presents various symptoms. Early symptoms include headaches, muscle aches, while later symptoms may include hydrophobia (fear of water), aerophobia (fear of air), and more.

Can You Get Rabies After the Vaccine?

Yes! Though it is rare, it is possible that you can get rabies even after getting vaccinated. While the vaccine is effective in preventing the disease, it is not 100 percent guaranteed.

How Can You Get Rabies After Vaccination?

The rabies vaccine takes about 7-10 days to become effective. Delayed doses can reduce its effectiveness of the vaccine, making the infection possible.

How To Completely Prevent Rabies?

It is necessary to get a rabies immunoglobulin vaccine along with a rabies vaccine to eliminate the chances of getting rabies.

How is Immunoglobulin Effective?

The immunoglobulin vaccine provides passive immunity to the body until the rabies vaccine’s immunity starts working.

Information Credits

According to PubMed, Immunoglobulin is a life-saving treatment needed for serious animal bites. It helps fight the virus until the rabies vaccine starts working. It is advisable to seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten by a rabid animal.