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The deadly lurking dangers of rabies: Do you know the best time to get vaccinated?
Rabies is a deadly disease caused by the rabies virus, which kills tens of thousands of people every year. However, all this can change through effective vaccination. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies vaccination not only prevents the disease but also protects potential high-risk groups. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at the timing, process, and safety of rabies vaccination to help you understand when to get the best protection.
The rabies virus is usually transmitted to humans through a bite or scratch from an infected animal, but exposure is possible through indirect contact with the saliva of an infected person.
Vaccination before exposure
WHO recommends that all high-risk groups should consider rabies vaccination prior to exposure. These high-risk groups include children living in rabies-endemic areas, veterinarians, researchers, and people planning to travel to areas with rabies risk. Three doses of the vaccine are usually given over a one-month period: on day zero, day seven, and day twenty-one or twenty-eight.
Vaccination after exposure
If individuals have been potentially exposed, prompt vaccination is indicated. At this time, four doses of vaccine are recommended over a two-week period, with rabies immune globulin given with the first dose. It is worth noting that for people who have been vaccinated before, only one dose of the vaccine is required. Although vaccination is not a cure, it can still prevent the development of rabies if given before the virus reaches the brain.
The incubation period of rabies virus is relatively long, so vaccination is usually most effective when given after exposure.
Vaccine safety and side effects
The rabies vaccine is safe for all age groups. Although about 35% to 45% of people experience temporary redness, swelling, and pain at the vaccination site, and 5% to 15% may experience fever, headache, or nausea, these side effects are generally mild and short-lived. Given how deadly rabies can be, it’s always wise to get vaccinated.
Types of vaccines
The human diploid cell rabies vaccine has been used since 1967 and is an effective inactivated vaccine. In addition, WHO currently recommends the use of newly developed chicken embryo cell vaccines and purified Vero cell rabies vaccines. These vaccines are safe and effective and can be used to prevent and treat rabies.
History of rabies vaccines
The development of rabies vaccines can be traced back to 1885, when French scientists Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux jointly developed the world's first rabies vaccine. The first person to receive the vaccine was nine-year-old Josef Meister, who received the treatment after being bitten by a rabid dog. In the early stages of vaccine development, spinal cord samples from infected rabbits were used to make vaccines, which served as an effective means of preventing and treating rabies.
In many parts of the world, the rabies vaccination rate has increased year by year, and the annual number of vaccinations has reached more than 29 million.
The Challenge of Vaccine Economics
As vaccine technology has advanced, the cost of modern cell-culture rabies vaccines was once prohibitive. However, the standard injection regimen followed by the WHO is as effective as the cost-split injection, providing an economical option while being effective in resource-constrained settings.
Vaccination strategies for pets and wildlife
Vaccination of household pets such as dogs, cats and other animals has become an important part of public health programs everywhere. In addition, oral vaccines for wild animals are gradually being used to establish an "immune barrier" and reduce the threat of viruses to humans or other animals.
Finally, getting vaccinated against rabies is not only a way to protect yourself, but is also an important part of safeguarding public health. How do you decide when to get vaccinated in your life?
