How to Administer a Rabies Vaccination

Co-authored by Jurdy Dugdale, RN

Last Updated: July 9, 2024 Fact Checked

If a patient has been bitten by a wild animal, it is a good idea to give them the rabies vaccine to prevent them from developing rabies. This vaccine should always be administered by a healthcare professional. You can give this injection either before or after exposure to rabies. Prepare the vaccine immediately before administering it to a patient. Inject the vaccine into the deltoid (upper arm) muscles. Multiple doses of this vaccine must be spread out over a few weeks, so make plans with the patient for them to return.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Assembling the Vaccine

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Use warm water and antibacterial soap to wash your hands. Dry your hands with paper towels, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. Put on sterile gloves.^{[1]
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2
Prepare the vaccine according to the instructions on the package insert. There are a few brands of rabies vaccine. Most come as a powder that must be mixed with sterile water. The package on the vaccine will indicate how much sterilized water you must mix with the powder. Roll the vial between your hands to gently mix the powder until it appears mostly clear.^{[2]
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- Always prepare the vaccine immediately before you are about to administer it.
- Make sure to check the expiration dates on both the powder and the water. If either is expired, do not use it.
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3
Gather a clean syringe with a new 25-gauge needle. If you don’t have a pre-assembled syringe, attach a new needle to a clean syringe. Do not reuse needles from another vaccination. The size of the needle will depend on the age of the patient.^{[3]
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- For adults, use a needle that is between 1–1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm).
- For children over the age of 1, use a 1 inch (2.5 cm) needle.
- For children under the age of 1, use a needle between ⁷⁄₈–1 inch (2.2–2.5 cm).
- If you are vaccinating multiple people at once, always use a separate syringe and needle for each injection.^{[4]
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4
Fill the syringe with 1 dose of vaccine. Before filling the needle, pull back the plunger to measure the correct dose. Insert the syringe into the vial at a 90-degree angle and press down on the plunger. Flip over the vaccine bottle. Pull back the plunger to fill the syringe. Tap the barrel of the syringe and push gently on the plunger to release any air bubbles.^{[5]
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- In most cases, one dose of this vaccination is 1 ml of liquid, but depending on the brand of the vaccine and age of the patient, this may vary from 0.5 ml up to 2 ml.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Injecting the Vaccine

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1
Educate the patient about the vaccine before you administer it. Explain the procedure of giving a vaccine. Warn them that there might be some slight redness and swelling at the injection site. Allow the patient to ask any questions.^{[6]
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- Remind the patient that the vaccine is necessary if bitten by an animal that has a high risk of carrying rabies, such as a raccoon, squirrel, bat, or feral dog. You may want to emphasize that the vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing the development of rabies. Once rabies develops, however, it is nearly almost always fatal.
- Tell the patient to watch out for side effects after the vaccine, such as confusion, dizziness, diarrhea, seizures, muscle weakness, burning at the injection site, or swelling around the eyes. Advise them to get immediate treatment if they notice these symptoms.
2
Choose an appropriate injection site. For anyone over the age of 1, give the vaccine on the deltoid muscle, which is the rounded muscle on the upper arm near the shoulder. Children under the age of 1 should be injected on the gluteal area on the outer thighs.^{[7]
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- Make sure that the site is not bruised, wounded, or injured. If one arm is injured, inject the vaccine into the other arm.
- Never administer the vaccine to an adult on the gluteal area. This may reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine.
Move from the inner to the outer part of the injection site to eliminate harmful microorganisms. Let the area dry.^{[8]
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Press down on the plunger with your thumb to release the vaccine. Once you are finished, pull it out, keeping the syringe and needle straight as you do so.^{[9]
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This will prevent any blood from leaking. Do not rub the area as this may irritate the injection site.
Do this immediately after giving the vaccine to prevent pricking yourself or the patient. Throw the cotton balls in the trash can.^{[10]
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Do this with antibacterial soap and clean water. To avoid infections and transmission of diseases, never reuse needles or syringes. Always use a new set for each vaccination.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Scheduling the Next Doses

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1
Give 3 doses over 1 month for a pre-exposure vaccination. After the first dose on day 0, give the second dose on day 7 and the third dose on either day 21 or 28. The pre-exposure prophylaxis is usually given to people who face a high risk of rabies, such as wildlife workers and veterinarians.^{[12]
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- With the pre-exposure vaccine, a few days difference in timing on the third dose does not matter.
2
Inject 4 doses over 2 weeks to an un-immunized patient after exposure. An un-immunized patient is someone who has not received the pre-exposure vaccine. The first injection is given on day 0. The next injections on days 3, 7, and 14. It is usually given to someone who has been bitten by wildlife or who has come into contact with bats.^{[13]
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- If there is a visible wound, you may also need to apply human rabies immune globulin to the wound. Consult your practice or hospital’s protocol for further information.
- With the post-exposure vaccination, it is important to stay on track with the timing of the dose.
- If the patient has a compromised immune system, provide an additional dose on day 28.
Even if a patient has received the pre-exposure prophylaxis, they still need a post-exposure vaccination if bitten. Administer the second dose 3-7 days after the first.^{[14]
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Warnings

If you are not a trained medical professional, do not attempt to administer the rabies vaccination yourself. Always see a doctor for treatment.

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While rare, anaphylactic shock can occur after a rabies vaccination. Monitor the patient for any immediate signs of allergic reaction, such as shortness of breath, swollen lips, or hives.

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