Got the first shot of the rabies pre-exposure vaccine this morning. Will receive the second shot in 7 days and third shot in 21 days. The info sheet on rabies vaccine that I was given says that should I be bitten in the future that I still should have two booster shots of the same vaccine that I was given today. However I will not have to have the Rabies Immune Globulin shot that is apparently very expensive and not always readily available. To me the biggest plus for getting the vaccine is that you should be protected should you get exposed to the virus without realizing it. According to the Dr. that did the consultation almost all human rabies deaths in the U.S. are people that didn't realize they were exposed.

Shot was given in the arm and painless. No side effects yet but will keep you posted.

Okay barehunter, as you already know, everything you have told us so far is exactly the way I got the pre-exposure nearly twenty years ago. What I would like to ask is if the actual needle was still as small. ( probably less tham 1/2 inch ) She gave me the shot ( actually a vaccination ) and said "Your done". And I said, " What do you mean, I'm done? I didn't feel anyhthing!"

This was kind of a let-down for a shot that was supposed to scare the crap out of me.

my arm was sore for a few days after the shots... but im a sissy anways... ive only got allergy shots for 17 years every other week!!!

They are cheap insurance for our own (and families) good.

Too bad we only get them so infrequently, since I like shots!!!!

I really didn't notice the length of the needle but it was absolutely painless.

My employee is getting his first shot next week.....

I received my first immunization injections in 1983. I do need to get my titer count determined here soon for a potential booster.

So how often to you need to get it done?

I am not sure of the frequency recommendations now for determining your antibody titer count after you have received your initial immunization shot series.I believed it is about every 8-10 years if memory serves me right.If it is maintained at a certain level you dont need any more shots unless a suspected contact is made.

after the said shots, I was told to get titer levels checked every 2 years after...

After I received my shots I had my titer levels check and the first year i needed the booster.titer level needs to stay above 1.5 or higher.

can i have my wife check my titer?

Thanks Guys! Now all i gotta do is figure out if i gotta go through the family doc or is this something you can walk in and have done directly at the hospital as outpatient?

Tyler, as much as I disagree with our largest humane society ( okay, I may dislike them a lot ) they probably know twice as much about rabies as your best doctor. Give them a call first, ask them when they are going to be giving rabies shots, and ask if you can be included because of your job. If it doesn't work out, no harm done. If it does, you will probably save a small fortune. THIS GOES FOR ALL OF YOU!

Guy's I'd like to hear more about this as I've only had to give give two post contact rabies shots in my seven years as a nurse. I assume the pre-exposure vaccine is very different from the post-exposure shots. Any information you guys have would be appreciated.

Got my second shot today. 3rd and final will be in two weeks. When I was given the first one they gave me a brochure from the CDC and contrary to what a lot of people think, the pre-exposure vaccine is the exact same thing as the post exposure EXCEPT that if you are exposed and have not had the vaccine you have to get 4 injections of the vaccine PLUS another shot called Rabies Immune Globulin (which is the real high dollar shot). I had zero side effects from the first shot other than slight soreness at the injection site. So far (11 hours after second shot) no side effects other than the soreness.

Again...I think the most important reason to get the pre-exposure vaccine is in the event that you somehow get exposed without realizing it....coon saliva in a cut or whatever.

By the way, that slight soreness at the injection site can usually be relieved by rubbing the area. ( Yeah, I know, now you tell me )

Thanks Paul...maybe I should take tomorrow off and go get a massage. Too bad these were given in the ARM!

Veterans can get them at any VA Facility free or at low cost. Tell them youi work with wild animals and "NEED" the shots. if they give you any crap, contact the Patients Advocate.

I had my shots done at the local health department. Went in told them I wanted the pre-exposure shots. They charged me $650.00 for the shots and the vaccine they had to order. Scheduled the shots and they gave me a print out for my records.
I figured I had dodged the bullet too many times.
The arm was sore on the last shot, the only side effect I have is craving fish, and playing in ditches and hanging out around dumpsters at McDonalds.