Proper Use of This Vaccine

In order for rabies vaccine to work properly, it is very important that you do not miss any doses . Keep your appointments with your doctor.

Dosing—The dose of rabies vaccine will be different for different patients. The number of injections and the time between injections depend on the reason for which you are receiving rabies vaccine.

For rabies vaccine adsorbed
• For injection dosage form:
  • For post-exposure prophylaxis if you have never received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose three, seven, fourteen, and twenty-eight days later for a total of five doses. The vaccine is injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle. On the first day, you will also receive an injection of another medicine (rabies immune globulin).
  • For post-exposure prophylaxis if you have received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose three days later for a total of two doses. The vaccine is injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.
  • For pre-exposure prophylaxis if you have never received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose seven and twenty-one or twenty-eight days later for a total of three doses. The vaccine is injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.
  • For pre-exposure prophylaxis if you have received rabies vaccine before (also known as a booster dose):
    • Adults and children—One dose injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.

For rabies vaccine, human diploid cell
• For injection dosage form:
  • For post-exposure prophylaxis if you have never received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose three, seven, fourteen, and twenty-eight days later for a total of five doses. The vaccine is injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle. On the first day, you will also receive an injection of another medicine (rabies immune globulin).
  • For post-exposure prophylaxis if you have received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose three days later for a total of two doses. The vaccine is injected into the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.
  • For pre-exposure prophylaxis if you have never received rabies vaccine before:
    • Adults and children—One dose on the first day, then one dose seven and twenty-one or twenty-eight days later for a total of three doses. The vaccine is injected into, or under the skin of, the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.
  • For pre-exposure prophylaxis if you have received rabies vaccine before (also known as a booster dose):
    • Adults and children—One dose injected into, or under the skin of, the muscle (deltoid) in the upper arm. Very young or small children may have the vaccine injected into the upper leg (thigh) muscle.

Missed dose—If you miss a dose of this vaccine, contact your doctor as soon as possible .