Will the rabies vaccine make me sick?

Adverse reactions to rabies vaccine and immune globulin are not common. Newer vaccines in use today cause fewer adverse reactions than previously available vaccines. Mild, local reactions to the rabies vaccine, such as pain, redness, swelling, or itching at the injection site, have been reported. Other symptoms more rarely reported include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Nausea

Local pain and low-grade fever may follow injection of rabies immune globulin.

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1. How do people get rabies?
2. Can I get rabies in any way other than an animal bite?
3. How soon after an exposure should I seek medical attention?
4. What medical attention do I need if I am exposed to rabies?
5. Will the rabies vaccine make me sick?
6. What if I cannot get rabies vaccine on the day I am supposed to get my next dose?
7. Can rabies be transmitted from one person to another?