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Do I need anti Rabies again ?
7 months ago in July 2025 one bull have saliva on mouth and directly touched my hand where there are small cuts and pimple. I went to hospital and doctor prescribed me new vaccine name 'Thrabis' and said it's 3 doses are enough instead of 5. One day pharmacy didn't have stock so they went to their godown and came back then handed over vaccine to me . So I went to nursing staff to take vaccine. In this whole process from taking vaccine from godown to till nursing staff injected it took around 30 -35 mins so I am really afraid as in gurgaon, haryana temperature in July is really hot around 27-35 degree so will vaccine work in this case or do I have to take whole course again? I have herpes already and once dry spot of blood touched. Cut on my leg while I sit somewhere so maybe I may have hiv or hepatitis so are these disease can effect anti rabies effect in my case ?
Answers (13)
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The vaccine is unlikely to get inactive from a very short duration of exposure to the room temperature.You don't need to get revaccinated
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No need to repet vaccine it will.provide you immunity against rabies
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Let’s address this calmly and scientifically.
A) Bull saliva on small cuts
Rabies transmission risk from:
• Bull (cattle)
• Saliva contact
• Small superficial cuts
Risk is extremely low, especially if the bull was not rabid.
Rabies in cattle is uncommon compared to dogs, and transmission requires:
• Saliva from a rabid animal
• Fresh, open wound
• Active virus
You took Thrabis (a modern cell culture rabies vaccine).
3-dose schedule is acceptable in certain updated protocols.
Now the main fear:
Vaccine kept 30–35 minutes in hot weather
Important fact:
Rabies vaccines are stable at room temperature for short durations.
If:
• It came from a pharmacy godown (likely refrigerated)
• It was not kept in direct sunlight
• It was injected within 30–35 minutes
→ This does NOT inactivate the vaccine.
Vaccines do not become useless in 30 minutes of ambient exposure.
Your vaccine would still work.
Next Steps
You do NOT need to repeat the course.
7 months have passed.
If rabies exposure had occurred, symptoms would appear within:
• 1–3 months typically (rarely longer)
You are completely safe now.
Regarding HIV or Hepatitis:
• HIV does NOT spread from dried blood on surfaces.
• HIV does NOT spread by casual contact.
• Hepatitis B requires significant blood exposure.
• Herpes does NOT affect rabies vaccine effectiveness.
These infections do NOT reduce rabies vaccine protection in a healthy person.
Unless you are severely immunocompromised (like chemotherapy, transplant, uncontrolled HIV), vaccine response remains intact.
Health Tips
• Avoid reading worst-case internet scenarios.
• Rabies vaccine failure from 30 min exposure is not realistic.
• If anxious, you may check Rabies antibody titre (RVNA), but medically not required.
• Maintain tetanus vaccination up to date.
• For future exposures, consult early but avoid over-treatment.
⸻
7 months after exposure:
If you were going to develop rabies, symptoms would have appeared already.
You are safe.
This sounds more like health anxiety amplification rather than real risk.
If anxiety is continuing despite medical reassurance, consider discussing this with a physician — persistent fear after low-risk exposure is very common and treatable.
You do NOT need another rabies course.
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No need to worry.
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You have already taken the full vaccine course, so no need to repeat it. A short delay in hot weather usually does not affect its effect.
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Don't worry
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Need some more details kindly consult
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The short heat exposure would not cancel its effect. Herpes does not interfere.Casual dry blood contact does not give HIV.
You do not need to restart the rabies course.
If you are still very anxious, you can consult me on practo. and ask for a rabies antibody titer test for reassurance.
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Dr. Kamal Kumar
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rewari
You do not need to take anti-rabies vaccine again based on the information you provided.
Here is why:
Exposure risk: Saliva of a bull touching intact skin or minor superficial cuts carries very low rabies risk compared to an actual bite. You already took precautionary vaccination, which is good.
Vaccine storage concern (30–35 minutes): Modern rabies vaccines remain stable for some time at room temperature during handling. A short delay of 30–35 minutes, even in warm weather, does not usually reduce vaccine effectiveness, especially if it was transported from proper cold storage.
3-dose schedule: Many current regimens (like updated WHO recommendations) allow shortened 3-dose schedules in certain situations. If your doctor advised 3 doses and you completed them, that is acceptable protection.
Herpes, HIV, Hepatitis concern:
Herpes infection does not affect rabies vaccine response.
Even if someone has HIV or hepatitis, rabies vaccine still works (sometimes doctors give additional doses only in severe immunocompromised cases).
Casual contact with a dry blood spot has negligible risk for HIV/hepatitis transmission.
Next Steps
When booster is needed?Only if you get a new animal bite/exposure in future — then you would need 2 booster doses (Day 0 and Day 3), not the full course.
Health Tips
Since 7 months have already passed and you are completely well, there is no chance of rabies from that exposure now.
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Dr. Chaithra H
General Physician
5 yrs exp
Bangalore
Don’t worry
Standard precautions will be maintained
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Dr. Vetsa Sri Krishna Chaitanya
General Physician
7 yrs exp
Rajahmundry
Need a few more details please consult for further evaluation and treatment
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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. Sajid Ali
General Practitioner
4 yrs exp
Kanpur
No need to worry
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