Do 5 rabies vaccine doses protect you from cat scratch?

Question

Hello doctor,

I got scratched by a cat and was prescribed a three-dose of Rabivax IM schedule on days zero, three, and seven. However, my first dose was given in the gluteal region, which I later read is not the recommended site. So, I took a fourth dose around day 28 and a fifth dose two weeks later. The injection site was rubbed slightly. Am I now adequately protected?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

I am glad you are keeping a close eye on this. Let us break it down:

Rabies vaccine and site of injection:

You are right: The rabies vaccine should be given in the deltoid muscle (upper arm), not in the gluteal region. Injecting into the buttocks can reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness because there is more fat and poorer absorption.

What you did next:

Taking extra doses at the correct site (deltoid) was the right approach. The World Health Organization and CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) recommend completing the full four-dose (or five-dose) schedule in the deltoid muscle, especially if a dose was given at the wrong site.

Since you received additional doses properly in the deltoid, you are now considered protected against rabies, provided there were no breaks in the schedule (the spacing you mentioned is generally okay).

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.