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About Rabies vaccination
Hi,
My daughter was scratched by a pet dog from my opposite home, and we took Abhayrab vaccine 3 doses on 0,3,7 days as suggested by my nearest paediatrician. He said since it was a nail scratch and dog remains healthy after 10 days we can stop vaccination at 3rd dose. I'm just concerned if we need to take another 2 doses of not. Just wanted to get second opinion here
Please help me to answer this today as today is the 4th dose time(14th day today.)
Thank you.
Answers (22)
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Follow your paediatric doctors advise.
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Can help you with the next course of action and treatment plan. Kindly consult via whatsapp at nine zero two nine six zero zero four seven zero.
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If you want to discuss your problem in more detail, feel free to message me on WhatsApp at nine one one nine two five five six nine nine for a free detailed discussion
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Need few more details for proper understanding of your issue.
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If the dog is healthy, alive, and normal for 10 days after the scratch, and the injury was only a nail scratch without saliva reaching the wound, then stopping after 3 doses (days 0-3-7) is acceptable and safe as per current rabies guidelines for low-risk category Il exposures.
You do NOT need to take the 4th and 5th dose if:
Dog is a pet, healthy, vaccinated, and observed for 10 days
Only scratch, no bite
No exposure to saliva/blood in the wound
If any doubt about saliva exposure OR if the dog becomes sick → then continue the full schedule.
With the dog healthy at 10 days, you can safely stop at 3 doses.
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Complete the regime
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Better to complete the dose. Because efficacy of vaccine depends on the complete dose.
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Complete dpse
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Complete all the doses. There is no such guideline which says to stop taking vaccine if the dog survives after 10 days. Kindly complete all the doses.
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Complete dose
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Take all doses.
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For a healthy pet dog that stayed normal for 10 days, a nail scratch DOES NOT require the 4th and 5th rabies doses.
Your doctor’s advice is correct. Your daughter is already safe.
What type of exposure was this?
A nail scratch from a pet dog that is vaccinated and remains alive and healthy for 10 days is considered LOW-RISK (Category II).
Category II exposures (minor scratches without deep bleeding) need ONLY the 3-dose schedule if the dog stays normal.
Why the dog’s 10-day observation is important
This rule is globally accepted (WHO, NIMHANS, APCRI):
If a dog is healthy for 10 days after the bite/scratch, it could NOT have transmitted rabies at the time of the incident.
Your dog was normal after 10 days → Zero rabies risk.
So the completed 0-3-7 dose is more than enough.
What is the standard vaccination schedule?
There are two valid regimens:
A) 3-dose regimen (0, 3, 7 days) — used for minor (Category II) exposures
→ Recommended when the dog is healthy and can be observed.
B) 5-dose regimen (0, 3, 7, 14, 28 days) — used for severe or unobserved dogs
→ Required when the dog is stray, unknown, or cannot be monitored.
Your case fits A, not B.
Next Steps
Do you need the Day 14 dose today?
NO, you do NOT need it.
Reason:
Scratch only
Dog is healthy and alive after 10 days
Pet dog from opposite home (not stray)
Completed 3 doses already
Pediatrician confirmed low-risk exposure
This follows WHO & Indian guidelines.
Health Tips
Does she need Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG)?
No.
RIG is needed only for deep bites, bleeding wounds, or Category III exposure, not for a simple nail scratch.
Your daughter does not need the 4th and 5th doses.
The 3-dose course is complete and protective.
No additional vaccination is needed.
You can stop the series safely.
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Dr. Gaurav Jaiswal
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Jhansi
Avoid fried and spicy food.
Water intake more
Do connect and consult
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Dr. Shahbaz Khan
General Physician
4 yrs exp
Delhi
Complete the course
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Dr. Prachi Verma
General Physician
2 yrs exp
Bangalore
Complete the doses regimen
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Dr. Ravi Kumar Nadella
General Physician
18 yrs exp
Hyderabad
Complete the course
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Yes complete dose of vaccination
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Dr. Anuj Mothsra
General Physician
6 yrs exp
Jhunjhunu
Can help you, kindly consult and provide detailed history for proper diagnosis and further management
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Dr. Nazia Begum M.G
General Physician
15 yrs exp
Belgaum
Better complete schedule
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