Rabavert
RabAvert is an inactivated vaccine that's used to prevent rabies in adults and children. This rabies vaccine is for people only and is given as an injection into the muscle. You can get RabAvert before you go somewhere where you might get exposed to the rabies virus. You can also get vaccinated after you might've gotten exposed to the virus (e.g., after getting bitten by a rabid animal). The number of injections you'll need depends on what type of exposure you had and whether you've been vaccinated for rabies in the past. Common side effects include pain at the injection site and headache.
What is RabAvert?
What is RabAvert used for?
Prevention of rabies in adults and children
How RabAvert works
RabAvert is an inactivated vaccine that protects you from rabies. The vaccine helps your body's immune system make antibodies against the virus that causes rabies. These antibodies help attack the virus if it ever infects your body.
Drug Facts
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What are the side effects of RabAvert?
Common Side Effects
- Pain at the injection site (84%)
- Muscle pain (53%)
- Headache (52%)
- Feeling unwell (20%)
Other Side Effects
- Redness at the injection site
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Pain in arm or leg
- Dizziness
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Nausea
- Rash
Serious Side Effects
- Serious allergic reactions: hives, rash, shaking, itching, nausea, flushing, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chest pain
Source: DailyMed
More on RabAvert side effects
The following side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings
confusion
difficulty with moving
difficulty with swallowing
fast heartbeat
feeling of discomfort
irritability
lack or loss of strength
muscle pain, stiffness, or weakness
paralysis or severe weakness of the legs
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
rash
seizures
skin rash, hives, or redness
stiffness of arms, legs, or neck
swelling of the joints
swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
tightness in the chest
unusual tiredness
vomiting
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Pros and cons of RabAvert
Pros
Protects against rabies nearly 100% of the time
Can be given to people of all ages
Can switch back and forth with Imovax (another rabies vaccine) for your shots
Cons
Requires frequent injections into the muscle
Might need booster shots, depending on your risk
Contains albumin (a protein made from human blood), so people from certain religious background(s) might not be able to or want to get it
Pharmacist tips for RabAvert
Let your healthcare professional (HCP) know if you have any food or medication allergies, such as egg, bovine (cow), or antibiotic allergy. These allergies might raise your risk for having an allergic reaction to RabAvert.
Make sure to write down the dates for each of your RabAvert injections on your calendar. This helps you stay fully protected against rabies. Try to stay on schedule as best as you can. But call your HCP if you accidentally miss a dose in the series by a few days. Your HCP might be able to get you back on track.
Be sure you're feeling well when you get your RabAvert shots. This helps your immune system work the best it can to protect you against rabies. You can still get your shot if you feel mildly sick, like with a cold or low-grade fever. But it's best to wait until you're feeling better if you're very sick. Ask your HCP if you're not sure whether you should get your RabAvert shot if you're feeling sick.
If you've been exposed to the rabies virus (e.g., bitten by a rabid animal) and you haven't gotten any preventative care before, your care team will also give you human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) with your first RabAvert shot. HRIG helps your body fight against rabies until your body can make enough of its own antibodies to fight rabies. If you didn't get HRIG with your first shot, you can get it up to a week later.
If you're planning for a trip, check whether it's recommended to get vaccinated against rabies for the destination you're traveling to.
If your work or your traveling often exposes you to rabies, you might need to get regular lab work or RabAvert booster shots to keep you protected from the virus. Ask your HCP whether you need any booster shots and how often you should get them.
Report any severe reactions to RabAvert to the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) website or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
Read the vaccine information statement for more information on RabAvert.
Frequently asked questions about RabAvert
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What are the risks and warnings for RabAvert?
RabAvert can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe allergic reaction
Risk factors: Allergic reaction to other vaccines | Allergy to albumin, eggs, bovine, neomycin, chlortetracycline, or amphotericin B (Ambisome)
As with any vaccine, there's a rare chance that you might have a severe allergic reaction to RabAvert. Let your healthcare professional (HCP) know if you're allergic to things like eggs, neomycin, or amphotericin B (Ambisome). This might affect your risk for an allergic reaction to RabAvert. Your HCP might ask you to stay at the pharmacy or clinic for a little while after you've received your vaccination. They can make sure you get proper care in case you have a serious allergic reaction.
Sometimes, allergic reactions can happen after you've already left the medical office. Get medical help right away if you notice symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, closing of the throat, difficulty breathing, hives, rash, feeling faint, dizziness, or chest pain.
Fainting
Risk factors: Fainting before or after vaccines in the past
Similar with other vaccines, it's possible to faint when you're getting vaccinated with RabAvert. Fainting can happen along with temporary changes in vision, a burning sensation, and stiffening or twitching of your arms and legs. Let your HCP know if you've ever fainted when you've gotten vaccinated in the past. You might need to sit down and stay at the medical office so the care team can look after you during your vaccination.
Problems affecting the nervous system
Although very rare, some people have reported getting nerve-related problems, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and encephalitis, after they've received a RabAvert shot. These cases are typically temporary. Let your HCP know right away if you experience any symptoms of nerve-related problems, such as muscle weakness, prickly feeling in the hands and feet, neck stiffness, difficulty seeing, movement or reflex problems, or unsteadiness on your feet. Your HCP can see what supportive care you need.
Lower response to RabAvert in people with a weakened immune system
Risk factors: Medical conditions that weaken the immune system | Taking medications that lower your immune system
RabAvert might not work as well in people with a weakened immune system. This can put them at higher risk of getting rabies, even after they've received the vaccine. People with a weakened immune system who get vaccinated with RabAvert after exposure might need a blood draw done on the day of their 4th vaccine dose to check how protected they are.
Make sure your care team knows about the medical conditions you have and the medications you take before you get vaccinated with RabAvert. Certain conditions, like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancer, and certain medications, like high-dose corticosteroids and transplant medications, can weaken your immune system.
Maintain necessary precautions to prevent rabies before possible exposure
Although RabAvert works very well, it isn't guaranteed that the vaccine will work to protect everyone completely from rabies and that you won't get infected. For the best protection against rabies, you should receive RabAvert, if needed, and take other necessary precautions. Make sure your pets are also vaccinated against rabies. Avoid direct contact with wild animals and wash any animal bites or scratches right away with soap and water.
Rare but possible transmission of other viruses
RabAvert contains a protein called albumin that's taken from human blood. Although very rare, there's a possible risk that viruses from blood donors might be passed onto people who are receiving the vaccine. It can potentially put people at risk for conditions such as Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (CJD).
Note that this risk is only a theory. Blood donors are carefully screened and the manufacturing process for the RabAvert vaccine is regulated to minimize the risk. There aren't any known reported cases at this time.
More on RabAvert warnings
RabAvert dosage forms
| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5iu/ml | 1 dose | $392.99 | $392.99 |
Typical dosing for RabAvert
RabAvert is given as an injection (1 mL) into the muscle.
Adults and older children: The injection is given into the shoulder muscle.
Babies and smaller children: The injection is given into the thigh muscle.
Dosing directions from the manufacturer:
Prevention of rabies BEFORE potential exposure to the rabies virus
Primary series: The typical dosing schedule is 1 injection on day 0, day 7, and either day 21 or day 28.
Booster series: The typical dose is 1 injection as needed. The need for a booster shot depends on your risk of exposure to the rabies virus and the levels of the rabies antibodies in your body.
Prevention of rabies AFTER exposure to the rabies virus
Previously unvaccinated or partially vaccinated with RabAvert: The typical dosing schedule is 1 injection on day 0 (right after exposure), day 3, day 7, day 14, and day 28. RabAvert is usually given together with human rabies immune globulin (HRIG) on day 0.
Previously fully vaccinated with RabAvert: The typical dosing schedule is 1 injection on day 0 (right after exposure) and day 3. These people don't need human rabies immune globulin.
Please note: Your healthcare professional might suggest a different dosing schedule for RabAvert following the CDC's recommendation. The CDC's recommendations can differ from the manufacturer's guidance. Talk to your HCP if you have more questions about the dosing schedule for this vaccine.
Interactions between RabAvert and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this vaccine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Receiving this vaccine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Chloroquine
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References
Best studies we foundBavarian Nordic A/S. (2025). Rabavert- rabies vaccine kit [package insert]. DailyMed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Destinations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Rabies.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Rabies vaccine VIS.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Explaining how vaccines work.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Guidelines for vaccinating pregnant women.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies biologics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies prevention and control.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Rabies symptoms and specimen collection.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). When to seek medical care for rabies.
Eriksson, A., et al. (2013). Animal derived products may conflict with religious patients' beliefs. BioMed Central Medical Ethics.
Immunize.org. (2024). Ask the experts: Rabies.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (2024). Encephalitis.
World Health Organization. (2020). How do vaccines work?
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