Do not restart the series - that is the clear answer. Once you are already in an ongoing anti-rabies vaccination course, a fresh exposure from the same or another animal does not need a new schedule; the doses you have taken have already primed your immunity. Simply complete your existing course on the original dates (day 0, 3, 7, 28 - intradermal or intramuscular as your centre started it). Just make sure the new scratch was washed under running water with soap for 15 minutes, and if the skin was broken and bleeding, ask the doctor whether rabies immunoglobulin is indicated for that particular wound - immunoglobulin is not given if more than 7 days have passed since the first vaccine dose, since antibodies are already forming. Watch the wound for redness, swelling, pus or fever, which would mean bacterial infection and need antibiotics, and confirm your tetanus cover. If you want me to look at the wound and your vaccination card and confirm the plan, book a consult with me on Practo.
Answered2026-09-02 12:37:07
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