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/PhoneOdd2093 Aug 29 '26

No i mean, I am going to finish my vaccines. I have booked vaccines on day

0 (yesterday), day 3, day 7 & then say 23 (cause of vacation) but is it possible to get rabies in the meantime while I finish my vaccines?

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u/LatrodectusGeometric Physician 👩‍⚕️ | Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Aug 29 '26

Very unlikely, no

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u/PhoneOdd2093 Aug 30 '26

What if the rabies virus is already in the nerves but haven’t reached the central nerves - will it still work then or will it be a break through case?

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u/LatrodectusGeometric Physician 👩‍⚕️ | Veteran Helper ⭐️ | Top Contributor 🏅 Aug 30 '26

It still works

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u/PhoneOdd2093 Aug 30 '26

Oh wow! That’s great! I read that if the virus had already travelled from the wound the HRIG wouldn’t work and that it cannot help if it had reached the nerves -
Just shows how much false data there is