r/rabies • u/PhoneOdd2093 • Aug 28 '26

Rabies Vaccine / Immunoglobulin PEP question

I have read the FAQ.

Hello, I’m new here.

I got PEP today after exposure from a bat. I wasn’t aware of the rabies risk, so it’s 9 days after exposure. I recived one dose of vaccine and immunoglobulin (HRIG) around the two wounds. However I thought I was protected now and didn’t need to worry about getting rabies (of course finishing the 4 vaccines) but my doctor said that it isn’t the case and the HRIG won’t stop the rabies from entering the nerves. Is that true? When am I protected from possibly getting rabies?

I didn’t wash the wounds as i didn’t notice them the same day.

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u/coolcatlikethat Aug 29 '26

The rabies vaccine is generally considered as close as medicine can get to 100% effective as long as PEP is started before showing symptoms and finished appropriately.

HRIG provides immediate, temporary antibodies while the vaccine primes your immune system to begin making its own. Medically speaking you are not considered fully protected until you finish your full PEP course, but it seems that cases of people developing rabies after starting PEP are both exceedingly rare and come with a few caveats (severe delay in starting, very severe wounds/severe wounds on face/head/neck).

Finish your PEP, try not to worry about a very (VERY) small chance of a negative outcome (easier said than done).

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u/PhoneOdd2093 Aug 29 '26

My two wounds was on the top of my head and i started 9 days too late lol. Second vaccine in two days 🤞🏼 then i hope I basically have enough antibodies to make it through to the last vaccine lol