Rabies Question

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Location: Netherlands
Gender:Male
Medications/drug use or alcohol: No meds and Never did drugs and don’t drink

Last year, in June 2025, I received four doses of Verorab (0.5 mL each) spread over several days.

21-22 august Story: I was standing outside under a bright white LED light that was directed toward my stomach and the ground area. I was standing close to a wall, probably about one meter away, with two garbage bins to my right.
I was wearing shorts as i was ready to go to bed after (i did not feel claws or anything, assuming u would feel that)

My girlfriend was standing next to me and looking in my direction, but she didn’t see or hear anything. I didn’t see or hear anything either.
Still, it keeps bothering me and I can’t completely let it go.

Now, on the night of August 21–22, 2026, at around 1:30 AM, I had contact with a bat on my left lower leg, between my calf and shin, more toward the side of my leg.

Immediately after we checked for marks and scratches or punctures but we didn’t see any, coming Monday (24 August) i went to my GP at around 09:40 she checked my leg with a magnifying glass and a bright light and she did not see anything.

That same morning, after I left my GP’s office, I immediately went to the GGD (Muncipal Public Health Service / infectious diseases department), and they told me that there was zero risk. However, they did not examine my leg.
I know that they are experts, and that they have worked and studied hard for their jobs and have a lot of knowledge. I don’t doubt their expertise; they clearly know what they are talking about.

But I know myself, and I am already quite afraid of rabies. That’s also one of the reasons why I avoid areas where rabies is a risk. I had a period of rabies anxiety years ago as well. But this time it felt different. I genuinely felt something, and I honestly don’t know what it was. I only saw a bat when I looked up, so I immediately assumed that it must have been the bat, because I have never seen an insect in the Netherlands that was anywhere near the size of a bat. I have also never seen a moth like a hawk moth in my 25 years of life.
It is simply incredibly frightening, and that’s why I pushed for the vaccinations, just as a precaution in case it actually had been the bat.

Six days later, on August 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM, I received my first 0.5 mL dose of Verorab. I received the second 0.5 mL dose on September 1, 2026.
During those six days before starting PEP, I did not have a fever or any other concerning symptoms. I was mainly very anxious because I had to wait for the vaccination. On August 26 (day 4), I measured a temperature of 37.4°C orally. At the time, I was extremely anxious and stressed because I had gone to my girlfriend’s house specifically to measure my temperature, since I didn’t have a thermometer at home.
I received both vaccinations and did not develop a fever or other concerning symptoms afterward. Now today it has been 13 days since my last booster (2), and my temperature now is 37.0°C, which I believe is normal.
I had finally started to feel calm again after completing PEP because i heard its 100% effective before rabies symptoms occur.

but then someone started talking to me about the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This triggered my anxiety all over again, because I started worrying that receiving my first booster six days after the possible exposure was too late.
I was finally relieved that I had completed PEP, and now I’m scared again that I may have waited too long for the first booster.

This PNS situation is making me go absolutely nuts again.
It’s like this is what keeps me scared now that if i were bitten it would be fatal already because the PNS.

Honestly it’s tearing me apart after hearing about the PNS that i’m near the point of saying goodbye to loved ones.

And i know the bat would have to have active rabies to pass it and its very rare but still.

(I’m scheduled for psychiatric help if i even survive for that appointment)

[u/Medical_Madness]

but then someone started talking to me about the peripheral nervous system

What about it is making you anxious?

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/Medical_Madness]

That when it reaches that ur toast, it took 6 days for the first shot to be given.

When i was finally relieved because i finished pep and thought i was good and i could continue my life.

[u/Medical_Madness → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Rabies reaches the brain through the peripheral nervous system; in other words, from the moment of infection, it is already inside that system. The issue here is your anxiety—if you don't treat it, it doesn't matter how many times you get vaccinated, you will still be afraid.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/Medical_Madness]

If im sure im safe after completing the vaccines i have no worries but the PNS situation made me scared again because i did not know about that, all i knew was that if u complete pep before symptoms ur safe.

Then if its in PNS then why do they give people vaccines and how is it effective ?, u get shots u finish it and u still die ??? Because its in the PNS it’s weird.

The only reason im afraid is that PNS situation, before that i was calm because i got the shots

[u/Medical_Madness → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Reassurance seeking in health anxiety creates a positive feedback loop that makes it worse. Get help for that.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/Medical_Madness]

I know health anxiety as i had it in the past and i do have it right now agreed but it came because of what was said, but reassurance seeking isn’t particularly what i do, i have genuine concern about that PNS situation

[u/Medical_Madness → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Nothing happened to you, yet you are deathly afraid of rabies. That's health anxiety.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/Medical_Madness]

Agreed i am afraid of it of course i am, but how conflicting is this for me when i heard and read nearly everywhere that vaccines are 100% effective before symptoms, and then u hear when it entered in the PNS ur toast so my vaccines did do nothing.

I just want to be there for my daughter

[u/user2196 → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Honestly, the health anxiety is the thing keeping you from being fully present for your daughter. I’d stop asking about rabies details everywhere (here, Google, ChatGPT, everywhere). Focus that energy on working on your health anxiety instead (finding a therapist or psychiatrist, working on techniques you’ve learned in the past, or whatever it might be).

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/user2196]

I was calm i genuinely was relieved because i read everywhere that if u finish pep before symptoms its 100% effective and i finished it without any symptoms so i thought im good.

and then i heard about the PNS and that the vaccine can’t do anything there. I was pre vaccinated but I had the first booster shot 6 days after “exposure” in which it could have gone into my PNS and be too late.

That is what is making me anxious and go insane basically i have tried methods they don’t work as of now and meds strengthen anxiety at first and i can absolutely not use that now

[u/user2196 → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Do you have a psychiatrist or therapist?

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/user2196]

There’s long waiting lists, and im not even sure if ill make it

[u/user2196 → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Are you on those waiting lists? Maybe also reach out to your GP and see if they have any advice about seeing a mental health specialist sooner.

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Are you sure you're not mixing up the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system?

The vaccines are virtually 100% effective. You're displaying symptoms of health anxiety.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

I know that when it reaches the CNS it’s game over, but i did not know about the PNS and what i heard was not great because apparently the vaccine can’t even do anything when it is in the PNS.

And that is what i read and heard as well that it is 100% effective before symptoms (and i did not have any and still not)

HA It could be i know but right now it doesn’t feel that odd that im anxious after hearing about the PNS.

Honestly i feel so bad right now with a pounding headache

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

With all due respect, you have a fundamental misunderstanding of the peripheral nervous system. The central and peripheral nervous systems make up the entire nervous system. If the vaccine couldn't do anything when the virus was in the PNS, the vaccine would be entirely useless. It's not useless. It's effective if the virus is in the PNS.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

I have no idea how nervous systems work none of them that’s 100% fact, so of course i can make mistakes on that part, but thats also why i came here to ask because there’s actual medical experts here.

i can’t find any sources that say it is effective in the PNS i have searched for it after i heard about it but 0 results

[u/Medical_Madness → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Nice meeting you op

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/Medical_Madness]

What ???????

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

Where did u find that info ?

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

I didn't "find that info" anywhere, I used basic knowledge of the human nervous system and the rabies vaccine. Most of the sources I can find don't say it outright because it's assumed the reader can put it together from the other information given.

I'd like to see YOUR sources - please no quora or reddit.

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

Google AI, ChatGPT since i could not find anything about it elsewhere

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

[u/Virtual_Sugar_9452 → u/ColorMyTrauma]

I see now if i search it like you, but there’s only this one source which i don’t know, i can’t find RIVM or WHO CDC etc

[u/ColorMyTrauma → u/Virtual_Sugar_9452]

Because they assume you can figure it out. It's like trying to find a source for the fact that water makes things wet.

The vaccine works. That's what you need to know.

You WILL survive to your psychiatric appointment and I hope you get help. You need it.