Disease it protects from

rabies

Who should get this vaccine

You may get this vaccine if:

• You had an animal bite.
• You have had contact with rabies disease.
• You work with animals at risk for rabies (such as veterinarians and veterinary technicians, animal control, animal lab and research, SPCA or Humane Society, or zoo and wildlife workers).
• Your work involves spelunking or caving.
• You are a post-secondary student at a veterinarian program.

Talk to your workplace health and safety department or a public health nurse to find out if you can get the vaccine for free.

You may also benefit from the vaccine if:

• You volunteer with animals.
• You travel to an area that has a high risk of rabies.
• You do leisure activities where there is a risk of rabies, such as spelunking or caving.

If you’re getting the vaccine for these reasons, then it’s not free.

If you can’t get the vaccine for free, check your health insurance plan to see if your plan covers the cost.

Who should not get this vaccine

If you had an animal bite or contact with rabies, get the rabies vaccine right away.

Talk to your healthcare provider before getting the rabies vaccine if:

• You have an allergy to any part of the vaccine.
• You had a severe (serious) or unusual side effect after this vaccine or one like it.

Although you can get the vaccine if you have a mild illness such as a cold or fever, you should stay home until you are feeling better to prevent spreading your illness to others. But do not wait to get your vaccine if you need it because of an animal bite or contact with rabies.

Doses

It’s very important to get all doses of rabies vaccine on schedule. Get your doses on the days your healthcare provider recommends.

If you’re getting the vaccine because of work, travel, or other activities, you need 3 doses given over 3 to 4 weeks.

If you’re getting the vaccine because you had an animal bite or had contact with rabies, you will get:

• 2 doses if you’ve had rabies vaccine before
• 4 or 5 doses if you’ve never had rabies vaccine, as well as a dose of rabies immune globulin (RIG) with the first dose of vaccine.

Some people, such as those who work with animals or those with a weak immune system, may need a blood test after all their doses to make sure they’re protected. You may need to get another dose if the blood test shows you’re not protected. Check with your healthcare provider to see if you need a blood test.

Get the vaccine

If you had an animal bite or you think you had contact with rabies, call Health Link at 811. If rabies vaccine is recommended, you will be told where to go to get the vaccine.

If you need rabies vaccine for work, contact your local public health or community health centre unless you are in Edmonton or Calgary:

• In Edmonton, contact Bonnie Doon Public Health at 780-342-1520 and choose the option for Public Health.
• In Calgary, contact the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre non-routine immunization clinic at 403-955-9397.

If you want the vaccine and need to pay for it, contact a travel health clinic or talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

How well it works

After the recommended doses of vaccine, almost 100% of people are protected.

In Canada, there have been no cases of rabies in people when rabies immune globulin (RIG) and rabies vaccine were given as recommended. In other countries, there have been cases of rabies in people, but RIG and rabies vaccine were not given as recommended.

Safety

Vaccine safety is a top priority. Canada uses extremely safe vaccines. Learn more about vaccine safety in Canada, including how vaccines are monitored for continued safety, and ingredients in vaccines.

Side effects

There can be side effects from the rabies vaccine, but they tend to be mild and go away in a few days.

Side effects may include:

• redness, bruising, itching, a hard spot, or feeling sore where you had the needle
• feeling tired or unwell
• a headache
• feeling dizzy
• a fever
• body aches or sore joints
• not feeling hungry or not wanting to eat (poor appetite)
• feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), stomach pain, vomiting (throwing up), or loose stool (diarrhea)
• swollen lymph nodes
• a rash

At least 1 out of 100 people who got this vaccine reported 1 or more of these side effects. In some cases, it is unknown if the vaccine caused these side effects.

It’s important to stay for 15 minutes after your vaccine. Some people may have a rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If anaphylaxis happens, you will get medicine to treat the symptoms.

It’s rare to have a serious side effect. Call Health Link at 811 to report any serious or unusual side effects.

How to manage side effects

• To help with soreness and swelling, put a cool, wet cloth over the area where you had the needle.
• There is medicine to help with a fever or pain. Check with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or pharmacist if you are not sure what medicine or dose to take. Follow the directions on the package.
• Some people with health problems, such as a weak immune system, must call their doctor if they get a fever. If you have been told to do this, call your doctor even if you think the fever is from the vaccine.

There can be mild, short-term side effects after getting a vaccine. Find tips to manage these side effects at home.