Question 1

i had a facet joint shot for low back pain on feb 8th which consists of steroid. would that have suppressed the antibodies i had from earlier rabies vaccines and make me less protected? would my immune systems response to newer infections be slower?

Accepted Answer

: A  focal "steroid" injection for facet problems will not suppress the immune system, nor alter T or B memory cells.  You will neither be more or less resistant to "newer infections".  The adaptive immune system, antibodies, plasma cells, etc., will be unaffected by your injection.   But if you are worried, discuss your concerns with your doctor.

Question 2

i had a facet joint shot for low back pain a month ago which consists of steroid. would that suppress antibodies i had from earlier rabies vaccines and make me less protected? would my immune systems response to new infections be slow? for how long?

Accepted Answer

: Local injection of steroids does not cause significant side effects of taking oral or IV steroids. It is not likely to lower the immune system

Question 3

is it true your immune to rabies for one year if you've get bitten by a dog and get 4/4 rabies shots? just out of curiosity

Accepted Answer

See below: Per usa's cdc recs, after receiving the primary 4 dose set of vaccinations, persons in the continuous risk category should be tested every 6 months and persons in the frequent risk category should be tested every 2 years and if the titer falls below a value of at least complete neutralization at a 1:5 dilution by rapid fluor focus inhib test, they should receive a booster.  So, no perm resistance.

Question 4

is it unsafe not to get a rabies immune globulin after being bitten by a cat?

Accepted Answer

No: It is not recommended to get treatment/prevention for rabies after being bitten by a cat.

Question 5

would five to seven beers have a negative effect on my bodys antibody response to the post-bite rabies vaccine? is it true that alcohol limits or hinders the immune response to the rabies vaccine?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely/who knows: The immune system functions in parallel &amp; separately from the other metabolic systems of the body. I do not know anyone who has studied the specific effect of alcohol on this or other vaccines nor can I envision how such studies would be funded. Research requires both an interest in the question &amp; a cost benefit that would drive the study. Recommendations to avoid alcohol are based on caution.

Question 6

full rabies pep(w/immune glob) fall '08. 2 booster doses nov '14. what are the odds i would not have protective levels of antibodies now, 7 mo later?

Accepted Answer

MINIMAL: The primary series is considered protective for at least 2 years .Those in trades with regular exposure are advised to check titers or get a booster after two years.If you received a booster 11/14 you should be protected for 2 years from that point.

Question 7

i got a rabies booster (2 shots) ending 10 days ago, my first round pep shots (4 shots + hrig ) was one year ago. can i use nicotine pouches? ingredients are nicotine salt. what about alcohol? will it impact immune response on a booster dose?

Accepted Answer

: Use as you desire. It should not interfere with your immune system at all, nor would social drinking.

Question 8

how long rabies vaccine protects me? got my 1 dose yesterday what if i got bitten again? do i need to get shots again? no immune because got it alread

Accepted Answer

Confusing question: If you have completed a primary series of the rabies vaccine it should provide protection for 2 years from the date of completion. Some will benefit for longer, but those in high risk situations are advised to have blod tests after 2 years to see if a booster is needed.

Question 9

i already got immune g, rabies vaccine/booster last week was when i the 4th dose. i got bitten again but this time by a rabid animal. arnt i immunized?

Accepted Answer

Yes: In general, completion of the anti-rabies series will protect for exposures during the 2 years following completion of the series. Those in high risk professions are advised to get boosters or have an antibody titer checked to see if a booster is needed for protection to remain high.

Question 10

how bad is it to get a rabies vaccine without getting the immune globulin shot?

Accepted Answer

Possibly fatal: Rabies is fatal. If you get it, you will die. There is little to know treatment. Once you have been exposed, you have a about 6 weeks before you get the disease. It takes time for the vaccine to work, maybe longer than 6 weeks. You need the instant protection of the Immune Globulin shot to give the vaccine time to work.

What We Treat

Telehealth

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

How does the immune system fight rabies

A member asked:

I had a facet joint shot for low back pain on feb 8th which consists of steroid. would that have suppressed the antibodies i had from earlier rabies vaccines and make me less protected? would my immune systems response to newer infections be slower?

A member asked:

I had a facet joint shot for low back pain a month ago which consists of steroid. would that suppress antibodies i had from earlier rabies vaccines and make me less protected? would my immune systems response to new infections be slow? for how long?

A member asked:

Is it true your immune to rabies for one year if you've get bitten by a dog and get 4/4 rabies shots? just out of curiosity

A member asked:

Is it unsafe not to get a rabies immune globulin after being bitten by a cat?

A member asked:

Would five to seven beers have a negative effect on my bodys antibody response to the post-bite rabies vaccine? is it true that alcohol limits or hinders the immune response to the rabies vaccine?

A member asked:

Full rabies pep(w/immune glob) fall '08. 2 booster doses nov '14. what are the odds i would not have protective levels of antibodies now, 7 mo later?

A member asked:

I got a rabies booster (2 shots) ending 10 days ago, my first round pep shots (4 shots + hrig ) was one year ago. can i use nicotine pouches? ingredients are nicotine salt. what about alcohol? will it impact immune response on a booster dose?

A member asked:

How long rabies vaccine protects me? got my 1 dose yesterday what if i got bitten again? do i need to get shots again? no immune because got it alread

A member asked:

I already got immune g, rabies vaccine/booster last week was when i the 4th dose. i got bitten again but this time by a rabid animal. arnt i immunized?

A member asked:

How bad is it to get a rabies vaccine without getting the immune globulin shot?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

Patient Care

Partner With Us

HealthTap

Join Us

Get the HealthTap app

Questions?