Is Repetition Of Anti-rabies Vaccination Required After 1 Year?

Posted on Wed, 4 May 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 4 May 2016 Answered on

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi,

Three days back in a shop one plastic material( note sure licked by dog or not ) touches open wound on my feet. I had already taken two full course of rabies rabipur vaccine( 5 doses *2 == 10 injections) because of dog bite recently (one in Dec'2014 and another in jan'2016) . Those two doses was one year apart. again i took another vaccine( injection) three days back due to the non bite exposure( although I am not sure) . Should i go for another injection ? I took my last dose three months before. Already i took 11 injections in last two years. Do you think i have enough imunity ?

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (-5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You have enough immunity

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.

1. You have taken two complete courses of vaccination against rabies, recently in XXXXXXX 2016. This has provided you adequate immunity.

2. The plastic material touching your open wound which is not sure if licked by dog is a concern for tetanus infection and not rabies. You can take a tetanus toxoid injection if not taken before.

3. If you have taken one injection three days back then it will not do any harm and your immunity is good and you have enough imunity.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar