Yes, you can receive the rabies vaccine without a known exposure through pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), which is recommended for individuals at high risk of encountering the virus. This preventative vaccination is advised for veterinarians, wildlife workers, rabies lab staff, cave explorers (spelunkers), and travelers to areas with high rabies rates.

Can I get a rabies vaccine just to be safe?

Yes. Pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccination is recommended for people who work directly with animals that could have rabies—such as veterinarians or wildlife workers—or for travelers visiting parts of the world where the disease is common and access to emergency medical care is limited.

Can I get the anti-rabies vaccine without being bitten?

Rabies vaccine is given to persons who have been exposed (eg, by a bite, scratch, or lick) to an animal that is known, or thought, to have rabies. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis. Rabies vaccine may also be given ahead of time to persons who have a high risk of getting infected with rabies virus.

Can I get rabies vaccine just in case?

The rabies vaccine can help stop you getting symptoms if there's a chance you've been exposed to rabies (for example, you've been bitten by a dog in a country where rabies is common). Get medical help as soon as possible if you think you may have been exposed to rabies.

Can you get a rabies vaccine before exposure?

Pre-exposure vaccination against rabies simplifies the rabies post-exposure treatment, and it may protect in cases of unrecognized rabies exposure or when post-exposure treatment is delayed. It does not eliminate the need for appropriate treatment following a known rabies virus exposure.

When do you need a rabies shot?

Is it worth getting the pre-exposure rabies vaccine?

A full course of pre-exposure rabies vaccines will provide good protection from rabies for most people. People who completed their full course of rabies pre-exposure vaccine over a year ago and are travelling again to a high risk area for rabies can have a single booster dose.

When was the last human rabies case in the US?

In November 2024, a California art teacher died from rabies, about a month after being bitten by a bat she found in her classroom. In 2024, there was also a rabies human death in Minnesota (contracted from a bat), and a rabies human death in Kentucky (believed to have been acquired abroad).

What is the 10 day rule for rabies?

The 10-day observation period for a biting dog, cat, or ferret is a standard public health practice to determine rabies risk: if the animal remains healthy for 10 days after biting someone, it wasn't shedding the rabies virus in its saliva at the time of the bite, meaning the exposed person usually doesn't need rabies post-exposure shots (PEP). This quarantine ensures the animal is available for monitoring, preventing unnecessary euthanasia for brain testing and avoiding expensive PEP for the bite victim if the animal stays healthy.
 

Can you get a rabies vaccine after you've been bitten?

Rabies shots include: A fast-acting shot (rabies immune globulin) to prevent the virus from infecting you. This is given if you haven't had the rabies vaccine. This injection is given near the area where the animal bit you if possible, as soon as possible after the bite.

What are the symptoms of silent rabies?

SIR: Symptoms characteristic of rabies are hydrophobia, agitation, and irritability. Some cases present with depressive symptoms frequently termed as “silent rabies.” History of contact with a diseased animal is usually available for a diagnosis of rabies.

How common is rabies without a bite?

Can I get rabies in any way other than an animal bite? Non-bite exposures to rabies are very rare.

What is the cost of rabies vaccine?

Rabies vaccine prices vary significantly by species and need: for pets, it's typically $10–$75 per shot at low-cost clinics, but potentially more with exams. For humans, pre-exposure (preventative) shots cost hundreds of dollars ($800–$1,300 for the series), while post-exposure treatment after a bite can reach thousands ($2,500–$7,000 for the full protocol including immune globulin). 

Can I take the rabies vaccine just for precautions?

A rabies vaccine aims to prevent the spread of rabies from an infected animal to humans. The rabies vaccine can be taken as a precautionary vaccine before or soon after exposure. In the case of a precautionary vaccine, a periodic booster dose is necessary. The rabies vaccine is the same for both adults and children.

Is there a downside to getting a rabies shot?

Slight side effects like fever, weakness, headache, nausea, local pain and swelling usually occurred in patients following rabies vaccination, among whom patients aged younger than 15 years old were more often suffered from fever, vomiting and cough.

Is 14 days too late for a rabies shot?

Even if you have been bitten a few days, weeks or months ago, it is never too late to start. The rabies virus can incubate for several years before it causes symptoms.

How would I know if I had rabies?

You'd know you might have rabies if, after an animal bite, you develop flu-like symptoms (fever, headache) plus tingling/itching at the bite site, then progress to severe anxiety, confusion, hydrophobia (fear of water), agitation, hallucinations, and paralysis, leading to coma and almost always death; seek immediate medical care if exposed, as there's no cure once symptoms start. 

Am I safe if the dog that bit me survives 10 days?

A 10-day quarantine is necessary because a rabies-infected animal can only transmit the disease after clinical signs have developed. If no signs have developed after the 10-day confinement, this means the dog could not have transmitted rabies to you at the time of the bite.

Is rabies still fatal in 2025?

In terms of human cases, CDC data show there were zero reported in 2019 and 2020, five reported in 2021, zero in 2022 and 2023, four in 2024 and two so far in 2025. Rabies in humans is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.

What are the first signs of rabies in humans?

Early signs of rabies in humans are often flu-like (fever, headache, weakness, discomfort) and include unusual tingling, itching, or pain at the bite site, lasting several days before more severe neurological symptoms like anxiety, confusion, and hallucinations develop as the virus reaches the brain.
 

Can I just get one rabies shot?

The rabies vaccine is given as an injection. You usually have 3 doses given over 28 days. If there's not enough time to have 3 doses in 28 days, they can be given over 21 days or sometimes over 7 days. Most travellers do not need a booster dose of the rabies vaccine.

Will insurance cover pre-exposure rabies vaccine?

You can also check your insurance policy on your own. Many health insurance plans do not cover pre-exposure rabies vaccination as a routine vaccine. However, some might, particularly if you are in a high-risk category.

Who is at higher risk for rabies?

Children between the age of 5 and 14 years are frequent victims. Rabies infects mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. Rabies spreads to people and animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes, mouth, or open wounds).

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