Rabies- anyone get the vaccine as a preventative?

I am getting the rabies vaccine once my Dr. gets it in stock. They kept thinking I got bit and were freaking out.

Anyways, can anyone tell me about the side effects?

How many shots/times and when they are administered?

I don't want to ask the Dr because it took so long just to get them to figure out I wanted it as a preventative.

Oh- I am a wildlife/bio major and work with wild animals all of the time. Going into exotic zoo vet as well and thought I should get it now while my parent's insurance will still cover it.

it is given as a preventative- all of my wildlife professors have it (it is winter break though and most are gone).

all I do know is that it is 3 or 4 shots, though I have seen 5 as well- websites aren't that reliable.

I got the pre-exposure vaccine. It was a three shot series. I forget the timing but you should be able to find that out on the CDC website. I didn't think they were bad. They gave them in my upper arm and it was sore for a few days after (felt like i got punched really hard). However, I know some people who felt sick, it wan't like an anaphylactic reaction but they just felt ill for a few days after. Some people said that their arms really really hurt. But i didn't think it was bad. Tetanus hurt more. Also make sure that your doctors are clear that this is a pre-exposure and not post-exposure series, because they are different. The post-exposure also involves immunoglobulin or something.

P.S. depending on your exposure risk you may just get the series, or you may check titers yearly or you may get boosters yearly.

I had to read the whole question before I figured it out. LOL! I kept thinking, why would this weirdo need a rabies shot???

I knew a fellow who was a volunteer firefighter and animal control officer; he got a rabies vaccine once a year. He didn't seem to have any ill effects at all. It's a single shot in the arm, pretty much like any other vaccine.

So did you get bit or not? What did you get bit by?
If you didn't get bit- you DO NOTWANT IT!

I've never heard of getting them as a preventative ... I have only heard that it is a painful shot that you must take in a series over a period of time.

There is usually a series of shots. I think 1 a day for 7 days. But as far as I know it is only given to someone whose been bitten by a wild animal or a sick pet. If you get bitten at work then the company should pay for it through workman's compensation.