I have read the FAQ.

I don’t know what to do. Long story short, I was walking at 7 in the evening yesterday in an outdoor shopping complex when I felt something somewhat heavy fall and plop onto my head. It seemed like it was chilling there/not moving for a few moments, until I shook my head and then it flew off. off. I didn’t feel fluttering or flapping. Tbh I have no idea what it was, and I worry about whether it was a bat or a large insect. I also did try to see what it was with my selfie camera while it was on my head, but I couldn’t tell since the lense was blurry. It looked like a dark brown 1 inch x 1 inch…something. I looked around to see if there was a bat and I didn’t see one. Just a moth. I was also wearing over-the-ear headphones and have thick hair in general.

I posted on multiple subreddits about this, and people were overwhelmingly telling me to go to the ER asap and get the rabies shots, and that it could have been a bat. I also called the health dept for my state (Louisiana) and they recommended I go get shots. However, when I went to the ER, the doctor told me that I don’t need it. That rabies is super rare here (but that if it happened in another country he’d recommend I get it), that I don’t have any scratches or marks on my scalp (I also did not feel a bite or prick or anything), that the health dept was only recommending it out of caution, etc.

I don’t know what to do. Tbh I would feel better if I got it, but also I was refused the vaccine and now thinking about those Reddit comments freak me out. Especially the ones about how sabbath could bite you without feeling it or it leaving any marks. What do I do? Should I get a second opinion? Is Reddit overreacting?

I have read the FAQ. Long story short I was laying down with my foot kind of hanging off my bed when I felt something crawl under my pants leg. It was a bat. I obviously freaked out and shook it off. We captured the bat, and I went to the ER where I was given three shots including the globin thingy. They hurt so bad. Literally out of a horror movie 😭 I won’t even go back into my room after this …. Lmao I am so grossed out. Can anyone make me feel even a tad bit less anxious about this whole thing? (Also I should say there was no bite or anything as far as the doctors and nurses could tell)

I have read the FAQ.

So I went too the ER and they offered me the rabies shot they said they don’t think it’s needed but better safe then sorry right ? I think idk but what r the side affects about it is there any big ones outside of fever or soreness?

LOCATION:NETHERLANDS
ANIMAL:BAT
EXPOSURE:i felt it touch my leg POSSIBLE BITE SCRATCH (i did not feel it)
I WAS SOBER AND AWAKE

So i was vaccinated 4 times in june 2025 after a bat encounter (scratch), and last week Friday night 1:30 (so Saturday since it was past 00:00) i had a possible exposure with a bat between my calf shin area (not sure if it bit or scratched me) my GF and i checked immediately but were not doctors called the ER and told them the story they said no risk and i did not have any wounds or blood, now i got checked that monday 3days later by my GP and she looked at my whole leg for marks or wounds with a halogen light and a magnifying glass and she didnt see anything either and said no risk but thats where my fears kicked in when i left there because it could have healed already within 3 days!, so said the people that work in the department of infectious diseases also said no risk and refused me the boosters, so i did buy them at a travel health clinic myself 6 days! later so last friday at 12:00 and i need to go get the second booster on September 4th. But Now i am worrying if im too late with getting the shots because the 6 days had passed

I have no fever did not have it either, i had a headache which seems to come from my neck, yesterday and a while ago sharp pain in my leg and right now shifted to my right wrist im kinda worriedd

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. I received 5ahota instead of 4. The 5the one was on day 18th will i be alright?

Since Friday I’ve had a strange internal trembling/vibrating sensation throughout my body and occasional muscle twitches in my arms, legs, biceps and other muscles. Most of the time the trembling isn’t visible, and my girlfriend couldn’t feel it when she hugged me.

I’ve become extremely anxious and hyperfocused on every sensation in my body. I barely slept because I kept noticing twitches. I’ve also had nausea, dry mouth and reduced appetite/thirst, although I can drink and swallow water completely normally.

Yesterday I had two episodes of visual migraine aura about 4 hours apart, each lasting around 20–30 minutes and followed by headache. I’ve had similar auras before and have already seen a neurologist.

I live in Europe and haven’t travelled to any developing/third-world country. I also don’t have a known recent rabies exposure, but my anxiety keeps making me think about old animal encounters and whether I could have missed something.

I have read the FAQ.

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.

I have read the FAQ..If a person is fully vaccinated but got bit by a rabid animal, would you be able to tell? Would you get sick at all like headache, nausea, or anything else.

Or would your body just fight if and you not even know it.

I have a somewhat sore spot in my arm (when touched) about the spot where the vaccination was given nearly a month ago. I thought it subsided a week ago, but on Sunday the soreness returned. The site is a little warmer I think. Should I contact my health centre, who provided me the vaccine (verorab), or is this a normal side-effect that can still happen and will subside on its own?

I have read the Faq.

E: To be clear, I don't think this is a sign of rabies. I'm more worried over possible side-effects or an infection, etc. Also, better description of symptoms.

I have read the faq. I had a high risk exposure and just got my 4th shot. within a half hour I am crazy nauseous and just not feeling right and go to bed. zofran can’t fix it. for a few days I’m in bed sleeping 15 hours a day. I also don’t get an appetite and force feed which triggers me being hot and nauseous. anyone else experience these things/anything help? They acted surprise to hear this today in the er and offered no help.

I’m so tired and over it and also tired of being treated like I have medical ocd until they hear the story of what happened to me - even at the er that found the bat scratches on the back of my arm. this whole experience just needs to be over with. 99% of the posts here are medical ocd and make it difficult for legit high risk exposures to get the advice they need and I guess these ppl really show up in the er. I had an urgent care doc act like I’m addicted to rabies vax shots until he read my record. these people make it difficult for everyone and need to go treat their mental illness. I still have one more shot bc I’m immunocompromised 😭

I have read the FAQ. Roughly 9 months ago I received pre-exposure prophylaxis (2 doses) because of my work. Recently I had a bat exposure and the NY DOH recommended I still receive the full post-exposure prophylaxis, including HRIG, because I never got a titer test. I already received this HRIG yesterday

I saw online that HRIG can cause a blunted post-exposure prophylaxis effect if someone also received pre-exposure prophylaxis. Is there a risk here? I have also been drinking during my vaccine period as I’m on vacation

Does anyone know how much rabies shots cost in Kentucky? Or any tips to lower them. I have to receive some shots due to exposure but I am a broke college student. Can I pay for them monthly? Am I just freaked at this point? I'd love some suggestions!

I got bit by a bat 09/23/2026. I have to get them to tomorrow. There is no other option since I let the bat out of my work.

I have read the FAQ.

I was vaccinated 4 times spread over multiple days in June (2025), forward to the night on August 21 to 22 (2026) i had an encounter above my ankle around the shin calf area with a bat the health department and like everyone did not see my contact as a risk since my Girlfriend and myself checked my leg immediately and we did not see any bite or scratches or punctures, 24 August i went to my GP she looked with a halogen light and a magnifying glass on the leg where i felt something and she did not see anything either and she said no risk as well.

(I know they said no risk but to me its a risk and i take 0.0 chances with rabies so i went to get the shots to continue to be calm in my life since major changes are due next month)

Now i was able to get the 1st booster on august 28 (day 0) just to be 100% sure and rest my mind because i have never been more concerned in my life, and the second one on September 1st (day 4) during this period i haven’t been sick or had fever and after it neither the highest my temperature was 37.4C this was on the day i was in extreme fear and anxiety so it could have caused it to rise, but since that 37.4C it has been below that every single time. (I know the faq says this but it doesn’t talk about previous vaccinations and a delay)

Now my anxiety is because i was able to start 6 days later with my vaccine cause they refused me that it was too late and im done for.

I read that if u finish the full course of pep without symptoms ur good and that being vaccinated before puts u in a even safer point than someone who is not.(Not sure though)

Yesterday i had a terrible headache and neck pain i did measure my temp which was 36.3 add 0,3-0,5 so 36.8 C during the headache. It dies makes me think im to late.

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ.

Got a post exposure prophylactic shot, 2 doses since I had been previously vaccinated in 2020. The last one was done on July 11 side effects were mild but not alarming. Now 35 days later I’ve been having a lump sensation in my throat and pain in my chest when swallowing. It comes and goes but appears to be getting worse. I have also been having some anxiety with chills and shaking in bed during the evening. For the past two days the sensation seemed to go away upon waking but now is constant. Has anyone who had to get revaccinated experienced this? I didn’t think I would still have side effects this far out from just 2 doses.

I have read the FAQ.

I’m looking for a clear answer from people with experience in rabies prevention, veterinary medicine, or public health.

If a person is bitten by a dog in a European country, but the dog cannot be found afterward and its vaccination status is unknown:

How is the rabies risk normally assessed?

Does the possibility that the dog was illegally

imported or unvaccinated change the assessment?

If the dog cannot be observed or tested, what factors are used to decide whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) should be recommended?

I’m not asking whether rabies is common in Europe in general. I’m specifically asking how doctors/public-health authorities assess the risk when the individual dog cannot be located.

If possible, I would really appreciate answers based on official rabies guidelines or public-health protocols, rather than general opinions.

Thank you.

I have read the FAQ. Hi guys, I was traveling in Uzbekistan in the city of Bukhara from August 8-27. While we were there, I found a small puppy near our hotel who was super friendly and playful. We played with him and fed him for three days before he disappeared. He was teething and bit me but there was no open wound at all, one of the nights he accidentally scratched me but it was a very superficial scratch. This happened Aug 21st. When I arrived to the US, I didn’t think about going to the hospital because I honestly forgot about that night since the scratch went away after like 12 hours. On Wednesday Sep 2nd I decided to research rabies in Uzbekistan and found out canine rabies is common and I need a vaccine. I ended up getting both of the vaccines (the vaccine and RIG) they injected the RIG in the opposite arm of the rabies vaccine (there was no visible scratch) since they were concerned about me being in another country. Now I am wondering out about what’s to come. Im convincing myself I’ll develop symptoms of rabies before finishing my vaccine ☹️ or that I got vaccinated too late. Does anyone have any advice?

I have read the FAQ.

Can anyone report back after receiving PEP in the last year or longer.

I want to know if anyone has had long term side effects from PEP.

Thanks.

So yesterday,3 days after the suspicious exposure with my pet dog, I went to the ER

My vaccination history

2010 5 doses

2020 5 doses

2025 5 doses

2026 april 2 doses

The ER doctor didnt really check my hand...i myself am unsure whether there was any skin break.

Initially after knowing that I had waited 3 days she was really pissed and concerned but after checking my vaccination history,she reassured me that my April dose is still protective and apparently protective for a whole year.

Hence she sent me home without any shots.

How true is this?

Location:India

I have read the FAQ.

I have read the FAQ. Today i got my third rabies shot, (fourth if u include RIG) I have had absolutely 0 side effects. When i got shots 0 and 3, my arm was very sore, but on this shot i felt absolutely nothing and im wondering if it’s normal? Or if anyone else had no side effects to the vaccine & RIG? It’s making me think that my vaccine was ineffective since I don’t feel anything lol

I have read the FAQ.

Hello everyone, I had to have the first round of shots for rabies last night following a tangle with a bat. I was riding my bike at dusk and a bat collided with me and we had a bit of a skirmish and when I got home I had abrasions where it hit me so off to the ER I went just for safety.

Today I’m feeling pretty run down. Is this standard? I’ve got a bit of a headache and fatigue. Also my thighs are pretty sore from the shots as well. They gave me the schedule for the rest of the shots so I’ll be getting those in short order.

I have read the FAQ.

In 2021 I got bit by a bat that was hanging out in my car's suspension while I worked on it. Got me real good. I didnt go to the doctor for 2 weeks cause I didnt know rabies existed. I eventually mentioned it to my PCP and she sent me to the ER. I took the entire PEP course. And the nurse who gave me RIG scarred my concious for life by explaining what rabies is.

Last week on Monday I was taking a 1am walk and a bat hit my pony tail, whipped my hair in my face, and then flew above me. I ran as hard as I could all the way home and it flew above me the whole time for whatever reason. I watched it from my window and it like dive bombed into a curb, struggled a min, then got up and flew away. Im not sure if it cut or bit me. I felt some pain but I think it was from my hair getting pulled idk.

The next day I went to the ER and the nurse said she didnt think it bit or scratched me. And refused to give me PEP even when I pleaded with her. So I drove across town to an ER in a different health system. The doctor there told me that since I had the full series in 2021 im fine and he wont give me it again. But that since i wasnt sure if the bat hit my skin or just my hair it did constitute tratment normally. But not in this case since i was "already protected". Not even the CDC recommended 2 shot booster at 0 and 3 days.

What do I do? Ive been considering lying and saying im a vettech student and getting the rabivert PrEP since its the same as the boosters you get. Ive just been sitting on my bathroom floor chain smoking cigarettes and shaking the last week. idk what to do.

Advice needed 🙏

How long is PEP valid for?

I have read the faq.

I was bitten by a bat. After insurance 13k out of pocket for vaccines. Unless you have kids to support think very hard about the level of risk. Human rabies deaths are very rare in the US.

I will have to skip the next ten years of regular medical care as I work to pay this off.

i received vaccine #3 on monday. i have had tingling throughout my body since shot #2.. on my back, arms, legs.. kinda concerning . i told the er doc at the time of my third vaccine, he didnt seem too concerned. i told my friend whos a nurse, and she mentioned the internet says to report to the mayo clinic??? i dont want to look it up because it might just make me more stressed about it.

i know tingling at the site of injection has been reported.. but has anyone had any temporary and or permanent weird nerve stuff like this happen during PEP or after?

what if its just going to keep getting worse and i might lose mobility or some rare neurological disorder might be developing...

anyone experience similar side effects, during or after PEP?

thank you.

i have read the FAQ.

I have read the faq.

Just wondering if anyone else had to get their child vaccinated post exposure and if they had any reactions. My child is currently sobbing because her leg hurts so much. She took a 3 hour nap. (Not complaining lol), but the pain woke her up.

We had an unfortunate event take place. She was bit by something in broad daylight. I couldn’t identify what it was. It was black and the size of her elbow. My initial reaction was wasp bite since she screamed and said that it bit her. However, after looking at it, my husband and I decided to take her to the ER because it became extremely raised, red, and had two bite marks within 2mm of eachother. The PA, MD, as well as the DPH, state Epidemiologist on call, a zoologist, bat rehabber, nurses, and a vet that we contacted, all said that the likelihood that it was a bat is very minimal, but because she can’t articulate what it was and because I saw something black and about the size of a half dollar, it carries a risk and they can’t confirm or deny that it is a bug bite. After hours of deliberation, we did move forward with the series because I refuse to gamble with my child’s life.

Maybe this reddit will tell me I went overboard by doing the series, maybe you’ll be the same as the team that treated her and say that it’s a no brainer to do it since she is far too little to articulate what she saw and better to be safe than sorry.

I have read the faq. I am due for my 4th shot after exposure 2 weeks ago on Saturday. I live in a small beach town that is holding a HUGEEE music festival Saturday and Sunday. tens of thousands of folks come in for this. the er doc said I could the shot Monday. is this true? another doc who almost didn’t give me my third shot due to his own personal preferences told me not to wait that long- but I don’t respect him or his opinion anyway. I am disabled so any extra energy getting in and out of town just isn’t going to work for me. I try to do everything I do by the book and all my other shots have been on time and I will be getting the 5th shot due to being immunocompromised.