Latest version of rabies vaccination guide

1. Vaccination is still effective more than 24 hours after being bitten by a cat or dog, and there is no saying that it is "invalid over time"; 2. The ten-day observation law is compliant but must be used in different scenarios, and it is not recommended to be directly applied to stray animals biting; 3. After full vaccination, people with normal immune function do not need to re-vacculate for non-serious exposure within six months; 4. Ordinary household pet owners and outdoor enthusiasts can also take pre-exposure prophylaxis in advance, so that they can avoid suffering and save costs when the risk comes.

Last week I met a little girl born in the 2000s at the vaccination clinic of a community health service center. She was bitten by a milk cat that was just brought back from home, with a needle-sized bite. She cried while holding on to a post about "rabies incubation period of 20 years" that she found on her mobile phone, wondering if she was going to die. The doctor coaxed her for a long time before she calmed down. This kind of panic is really too common. Today I will break down the issues that everyone is concerned about and explain them clearly.

First figure out what situations require fighting and what situations don’t involve fussing around. For example, if you pet the stray cat downstairs and the tip of its claws hooks the back of your hand, there is only a red mark without bleeding, or if the dog at home bites your tooth without breaking it, this is a level II exposure. You only need to wash it alternately with soapy water and running water for more than 15 minutes and then get vaccinated; If a broken skin area is licked by a cat or dog, or even bitten by a bat, it is Level III. In addition to the vaccine, immunoglobulin is also administered around the wound. In this case, the immunoglobulin directly injects ready-made antibodies into you, which is equivalent to giving you a temporary shield that can fill in the window period during which the vaccine induces the production of autoantibodies.

Speaking of this, some people must ask, "Isn't there a ten-day observation method? As long as cats and dogs are not dead for ten days, there is no need to vaccinate?" There are indeed two mainstream views in the industry on this issue, and there is no absolute right or wrong: One is the practical view of grassroots disease control, which believes that the current rabies vaccination coverage rate of dogs in China is less than 20%, and the infection rate of stray animals is higher. If you wait ten days to find that the animal is sick before vaccination, it will probably be too late, so no matter what the situation is In this case, give the first injection first. If the animal is indeed not dead within ten days of follow-up observation, the remaining injections can be stopped, and safety is the priority. The other is the WHO guideline view. If the bite is domestic, has a formal vaccination record (at least two rabies vaccinations), has never been out and come into contact with stray animals, and the degree of bite is very light, then you can observe the condition of the animal and vaccinate. If the animal shows no abnormality within ten days, the vaccination can be terminated without additional injections. Both opinions are reasonable. You can choose according to your own situation. If you are not sure, just listen to the doctors at the local vaccination clinic. After all, they know the local animal virus situation best.

By the way, rabies vaccination is not required only if someone is scratched or bitten. I used to know a photographer who often went into the mountains to take pictures of wild animals. He took pre-exposure prophylaxis in advance two years ago. Last year, he was bitten by a wild dog in the mountains. He only needed two injections to get rid of the wound. If he hadn't taken the injection in advance, he would have not only received five injections in advance, but also more than a thousand immune globulin. It would have cost money. If you are a veterinarian, a pet store employee, someone who often hikes outdoors, or has cats and dogs at home, you can consider taking 3 shots of pre-exposure prophylaxis in advance. If you are slightly exposed within three years after the shot, the number of supplementary shots will be much smaller, and there is no need to take immune globulin, which is very cost-effective.

Many people asked that "a vaccination that lasted more than 24 hours was in vain" is purely a rumor. I met a migrant brother from Henan who was bitten by his family dog during the autumn harvest. He was busy harvesting wheat and forgot about it. It took four days before he remembered to go to the vaccination site, and the doctor still gave him the vaccination. Nothing happened now. The incubation period of rabies can be as short as a few days or as long as several years. As long as you haven't developed symptoms such as fear of water or wind, vaccination can produce enough antibodies to neutralize the virus. Of course, the sooner you get vaccinated, the better. Don't delay it deliberately. Also, it was always said before that you should not eat seafood, drink coffee, or drink alcohol during the vaccination period. The latest guidelines have long been changed. As long as you are not allergic to these things, eating a small amount will not affect the production of antibodies at all. It does not feel like going to jail. Of course, if you drink until you are drunk, it will definitely not work. If your immunity is disordered, no vaccine will work.

As for how long it will last after the injection, if a person with normal immune function is scratched or bitten by a cat or dog within half a year after being fully vaccinated, as long as the bite is not a serious exposure to a dangerous area such as the head or face, there is no need to re-inject, just wash the wound well; 2 additional injections should be made between half a year and 1 year, 3 injections should be given between 1 and 3 years, and the full course of vaccination should be repeated after 3 years. If you are taking immunosuppressants, or have immune deficiencies such as AIDS, it is best to check the antibody titer after vaccination. If it is not enough, you can re-inject it in time, and don't force it.

To be honest, during the six months I worked as a volunteer at the vaccination site, I saw too many people who scared themselves, and I also saw people who were so arrogant that it took half a month for them to be bitten by a dog. In fact, although the case fatality rate of rabies is 100%, it can almost be prevented as long as it is treated in time. There is no need to panic excessively, but don’t bet your life on whether cats and dogs are poisonous. If you are not sure, go to the vaccination clinic and ask the doctor. It is much more reliable than searching for all kinds of scary posts on the Internet.