Rabies Vaccine Side Effects

Rabies is the disease that causes acute inflammation in the rains of warm blooded animals. Rabies is a disease that is zoonotic, which is transmitted in human beings, through the infected animals. It is mostly caused by bites of the rabies infected animals and rarely by any other way of transmission. Rabies is invariably fatal, if its initial symptoms are ignored, prior to the onset of the disease. Rabies is the most common reason of the deaths of the livestock in most of the developing countries.

The only precautionary measure that can be taken here, is the rabies vaccine that is very easily available. Rabies vaccines are injected to prevent rabies in both humans and canines. Several side effects are observed that can be categorized into mild and severe side effects of rabies vaccine. But before that, let's see how does the rabies vaccine actually work.

Rabies Vaccine

Rabies vaccine is an inactive rabies virus, which is injected into the body to act as a protective shield against exposure to the bacteria and viruses. Due to these vaccines, the immune system produces antibodies that actually help the body to identify and fight the foreign organisms. This whole process is also known as 'active immunity'. Rabies vaccine is given to the people that are at highest risk of contraction with rabies. These vaccines are administered in the muscle of the upper arm.

• People which are at the risk of being bitten, and animals that can get infected by rabies are administered this vaccine in three segments. In short, three rabies shots are given on the day of the bite, and the 7th and the 28th day after the bite.
• People who are already immunized by the rabies vaccine and are bitten by rabies suspected animals, need three more doses of rabies vaccines. First vaccines on the day of bite, and 3rd and 7th day of the bite.
• People who have never been immunized by rabies vaccine need to take extra precaution and the first rabies shot must be given to them as soon as the person gets bitten by rabies suspected animal. Afterward, doses must be given on 3rd, 7th, 14th, 30th and 90th day of the bite.

The treatment can be stopped, if the animal is found out of risk of rabies. People that are administered with rabies vaccine are the lab technicians, who handle rabies virus, animal handlers, and people working in quarantine sections, field workers and veterinary doctors. There are several side effects that are observed both in humans and animals.

Rabies Vaccine Side Effects

Rabies vaccine and the side effects of rabies vaccine can affect differently on an individual basis. Following are the possible side effects of rabies vaccine. The side effects that are mentioned here are not obvious ones, but they can be experienced by those administered by rabies vaccine. Let's categorize them as common and not-so-common.

Common Side Effects of Rabies Vaccine
Here are the common side effects that are experienced by one in ten cases.

• Redness, pain and itching at the injection site.
• Headache, nausea, diarrhea and feeling sick.
• Malaise, chills with muscle and joint pain.

Rare Side Effects of Rabies Vaccine
Here are the side effects that are observed in 1 of the hundred cases.

• Bruises at the injection site.
• Fever and chills.
• Abdominal pain and weakness.
• Dizziness and vomiting.

Along with the above mentioned side effects of rabies vaccine, there are several other side effects that are also observed. They are,

• Paraesthesia (sensation of pins and needles in the skin)
• Mild paralysis
• Convulsions
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Rabies shots side effects are not observed with respect to the reaction for other medication, but they tend to prove less effective, in case of the patients who are indulging into immune suppressing medications, like high amount of corticosteroids, chemotherapy, immune suppressants that are taken by the organ transplant recipients, etc. So, those of you, who are taking such medications, should consult the respective doctor first, before taking the rabies shots.

Rabies Shots Side Effects in Animals

There are a few side effects that are observed in pets that are administered with rabies shots. They are:

• Sleepy, dull and depressed animals, for 24 hours after the shots.
• Increase irritability and grumpiness in animals.
• Formation of hard and un-painful lump under the skin on the injection site.
• Sneezing, nasal and or ocular discharge after a few days of shots.
• Anaphylactic reactions like vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, low blood pressure, high pulse rate.
• State of severe shock, pale and white gums, swelling of throat and face and hives all over the skin.

Generally, these side effects of rabies vaccine go away within a few days of the shots. If the above mentioned side effects do not fade away in a certain time limit, it is best in the interest of the animals to visit any veterinary doctor and get the reasons, evaluated.

Failure of the rabies vaccine can be a real curse to the subject, when the vaccine itself can turn into the disease. There are very rare cases of failure of the rabies vaccine. Incorrect vaccination method can lead to total failure of the rabies vaccine. Hence, its best to be careful while administration.