Rabies vaccination guide

First, as long as the skin is broken or the mucous membrane is licked by animals after being scratched and bitten by cats and dogs (including bats, foxes and other susceptible mammals), rabies vaccination must be standardized; second, high-risk groups with no history of exposure can be vaccinated in advance for prevention; third, as long as the full course of standardized vaccination is completed before the onset of illness, the protection rate is close to 100%, so there is no need to panic excessively.

This is not something I say out of thin air. When I was doing public health research at a community health service center last week, I met 8 people who came to get rabies vaccinations in one morning. Almost all the questions they asked were "I don't have bleeding, do I need to get vaccinated?" "My cat has been vaccinated, do I not need to get vaccinated?" It just cleared up the issues that everyone is most concerned about.

The most confusing thing for everyone is "if there is no bleeding, do I not need to get an injection?" Don't judge blindly. As long as you feel a tingling sensation when you rub the wound with alcohol, it means that the skin barrier has been broken, and it is a situation that requires vaccination. Don't worry about whether there is bleeding or not. There was a high school student who got a needle-sized red mark scratched by his dog's tooth, but he didn't take it seriously. After a week of reading about rabies-related science, he panicked and went for a vaccination. The doctor said that it was lucky that it was in time, but if it really dragged on until he developed symptoms of fear of water and wind, no one could save him.

Here I have to talk about the "Ten-Day Observation Method" that everyone has been arguing about for a long time. Many people say that the WHO recognizes it. Why do many domestic doctors not recommend it? In fact, both sides are right: WHO's application prerequisites are very strict. The animal responsible must be a domestic pet that is regularly vaccinated, has a clear vaccination record, and can ensure health observation within 10 days. In this case, the animal can be observed while receiving the first two injections. If the animal does not die within 10 days, the subsequent injections can be omitted, which can save some money and require fewer injections. However, most domestic clinicians do not recommend this method, especially if it is bitten by stray animals or animals that have not been vaccinated. You cannot guarantee the health of the animal at all. If something goes wrong during the 10-day observation period, it will be too late to cry. After all, the mortality rate of rabies is really 100%, without exception, and this is not negotiable.

Don’t panic when it’s time to fight. Just go to the nearest community health service center or dog injury clinic. You don’t have to go to a big hospital. There are two commonly used vaccination procedures. One is the familiar 5-injection method, with one injection each on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. The other is the 2-1-1 procedure, with one injection in each arm on the same day and one injection each on days 7 and 21. There is no difference between the two effects. Use whichever one is available at the clinic you go to. There is no need to worry about which one is better. Oh, by the way, don’t rush to the hospital when you are bitten. First, find soapy water (or regular soap will do if you don’t have it) and wash it on the wound for at least 15 minutes, squeezing out the blood around the wound. This operation can wash away most of the virus. It is much more effective to go to the hospital half an hour earlier than you. I have met several patients who ran away covering their wounds. When they arrived at the hospital, the wounds were all clotted, which increased the risk of the virus remaining.

What many people don’t know is that the rabies vaccine can also be taken in advance. For example, if you have cats and dogs at home and are often walked, or are in the pet industry, or often go camping in the wild and may encounter wild animals, you can get 3 basic injections in advance. Even if you are scratched and bitten later, you only need to take 2 additional injections to strengthen. You don’t need to take the whole process, which is more worry-free.

Finally, let’s talk about a few common pitfalls: Don’t think that if your pet is vaccinated, you don’t need to vaccinate. The protection rate of pet vaccines is not 100%. What if its immunity fails? Don’t think that if you get vaccinated as a child, it will be effective for life. The protection period after full vaccination is generally only 6 months to 1 year. If you are bitten after more than 1 year, you will either get a booster shot or get full vaccination again. Don’t be too troublesome. Others asked if they should be beaten if bitten by a hamster or rabbit. In fact, these two are low-risk, and those raised through regular channels will basically not carry rabies virus. If you are really worried, you can ask the local dog injury clinic doctor, so you don’t have to scare yourself.

To put it bluntly, when it comes to rabies, the biggest fear is luck. A few hundred dollars and a few injections can buy you 100% peace of mind, no matter what, you won’t lose. When you are really unsure, it is much more effective to go directly to the nearest dog injury clinic and ask the doctor than to search for various opinions on the Internet for a long time.