What should you know about MSD Nobivac rabies?

Nobivac products are made for animals, and a person should not use an animal vaccine as a substitute for a licensed human vaccine. Rabies can spread through saliva from an infected animal, usually through a bite, scratch or contact with broken skin or mucous membranes. A clinician decides whether exposure occurred and whether wound treatment, rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin are needed. Decisions depend on the animal, the contact and your previous vaccination history.

Wash a bite or scratch immediately with plenty of running water and soap, then seek urgent medical care. Do not wait for symptoms and do not rely on observing the animal without professional advice. Tell the clinician the animal species, location, behaviour, time of contact, wound site and whether saliva touched your eyes, mouth or broken skin. Bring vaccination records if available, but do not delay care while looking for them. Follow the prescribed human schedule exactly.

Seek urgent care after any potentially rabies-risk bite, scratch or saliva exposure, especially from a stray, wild or unavailable animal. Go immediately for wounds to the face, head, neck, hands or genitals, multiple wounds, or any injury that is deep or contaminated. Symptoms such as fever, unusual tingling at the wound, difficulty swallowing, agitation or confusion require emergency care, but prevention must begin before symptoms.

Was this contact a rabies exposure? Do I need human post-exposure prophylaxis or immunoglobulin? Which wound care and vaccine schedule apply to me? Does prior rabies vaccination change the plan?