Someplace I got the idea that there is a rabies vaccine that one can take as a preventative. A shot that protects one from being infected if something goes wrong an you come in contact with a rabid animal.

I asked pharmacist today about it and she said she had never heard of it. Only heard of the shots you get if you know you have been bitten by a rabid animal.

As a trapper handling dozens of animals, I do wear thicker vinyl gloves, there is always the possibility of a tooth nicking a hole in a glove or a knife cut going through the glove and making a slight cut on a finger. If the animal was rabid but not showing symptoms yet a trapper could get infected and not know it until he/she was well on the way to a very bad situation.

Am I imagining things that there is a preventative vaccine? If anyone knows, what is it called?

I'd think that vets, animal groomers, folks that work in public animal control kennels would benefit from getting it. Not to forget trappers especially.

What got me thinking about this is here in NC there is an animal petting business. They apparently had a rabid fox get into their small goat collection, didn't know it. They were carrying their goats around to events so people/kids could "pet the goat". Now there are something like 300 people that have been identified as being exposed to rabies and all must have the shots. And they are still looking for more people that haven't come forward yet.

It is the same vaccine as what you get after exposure, except it's one shot a year. Here, it's free for everyone working with animals as well as hunters/trappers. It's not recommended for kids though, they only get post-exposure shots. I thought over there it was the same except the free part.

I'm planning to start getting this vaccine next year because I already had two post-exposure series and waiting in line at the clinic is boring.

Here you have to pay for the prophylactic shot.
The post exposure shot is free.

Even with the pre-exposure vaccination, it is highly recommended to get the post rabies shot if you are bitten and are unable to capture the animal so that it can be tested for rabies.

I looked into it several years ago after i had an incident. I can get the pre exposure vaccine through the county health department. Friends with a couple vets and they all have gotten it.

I have gotten mine, it was a shot, two weeks a second shot and then after 30 days the third shot. After that you can get tested to see if you are still protected. They told me every 3 years to get it checked. They also do suggest post exposure if you do get bit. My CVS pharmacy had it ordered and my sub par insurance paid for it. I found this odd as when I had great insurance they would not pay for it, I think this is the only thing my new insurance has covered.

wws

Pre exposure shot is much much cheaper than an ER visit. The post exposure visit was very high about 2 years ago close to 50 grand.Glad I had Insurance.

Yep it's a 3 part serie's then after that get your titer's checked every couple of years and get a booster if you need one.

It’s free in Canada for trappers and anyone that could be exposed. I believe the nurse told me it was a federal program.
I got mine a couple years ago, think it’s 3 small shots in the arm a week or two apart then a blood test about a month later to make sure the antibodies are in there. A booster every 10 years or so if a blood test shows you need one.
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-hea...ive-vaccines/page-18-rabies-vaccine.html

I wonder if ther are more issues/ side effects or complications geting a pre exposure shots if like me you have a compromised system due to MS meds. Kesimpta reduces my b cells so they are less likely to tell my T cells to attack my mylein sheath creating new damage.

Not being a science guy and just last week thinking about pre exposure rabies shots its got me wondering how well shots work on people with immune compromise systems compared to those with healthy systems.

It sure wasnt free here in kansas when I looked into it. And ya they recommend still coming in to get shots if possible exposure occurs so figured just pay for it once I get bit again lol

Yes, there is a pre-exposure vaccine. I have had it and get my titer checked every 2 to 3 years. If my titer is low or I suspect exposure, I get a booster shot. In the USA, many primary care Docs, NPs and PAs are not very knowledgeable about rabies vaccines. My care team was not familiar with the pre-exposure treatment. Veterinarians, on the other hand, are more knowledgeable and can help you educate your primary care team. They can also steer you in the right direction to get the pre-exposure series because they have been there and done that already.

that's insane. The vaccine costs around $30 for 5 or 6 vials (retail price) and the healthcare system/hospitals probably buy it much cheaper. It's probably even cheaper yet in other countries (SE Asia, India, etc.) because it's a simple killed vaccine, nothing high-tech.

Is there a particular reason why it's so expensive?

How many people die in the US (and Siberia) from Rabies per year? I've never heard of one.

I heard of one this year in the US, read about it here I believe.

Several deaths per year both over there and here in Russia, but both countries have robust prophylaxis/monitoring programs (for humans/pets/wild carnivores).

It's really bad in India nowadays, they used to rely on vultures to dispose of all their dead bodies (both cattle and humans, because their cremation rituals are slight browning at best because firewood is expensive). Their vultures died out catastrophically after they started using NSAIDs widely to treat cattle (birds are sensitive to diclofenac, it shuts down their kidneys in trace amounts). Went from tens of millions to several thousand in a decade and unlikely to rebound. Vultures got replaced by millions of feral dogs and rabies is now rampant.

…. Oh crap now they’re gonna bring it over here and Europe… gonna be like a 28 days later Bollywood remake lol

Aww. You've got to celebrate diversity.

That soup is not boiling hes just farting.

Any veteran can get the pre-exposure rabies shots for free, (there are 3), with a Booster shot in a year.if enrolled in at the VAMC nearest you. Tell your Primary care Dr you handle wild animals and "NEED" the shots.

If they give you any crap, go see the Vet rep and/or the Patient's Advocate.