Text/Yangcheng Evening News All Media Reporter Zhang Hua
Correspondent Qisha Liu
Photo/Yangcheng Evening News Data Map
September 28 is World Rabies Day. We all know that once rabies occurs, almost 100% of people die, but don’t worry too much, with correct treatment, rabies can be prevented. On September 27, Yu Weihua, chief physician of the Eighth Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, said in an interview with reporters that if rabies among dogs is to be eliminated, the rabies vaccination rate of dogs, cats and other animals in the crowd needs to exceed 70%; secondly, humans are bitten by animals. Standardized treatment should be carried out as soon as possible after injury, including wound washing and disinfection, rabies vaccination, and rabies immune globulin injection.
It is reported that WHO aims to eliminate human rabies globally by 2030. Yu Weihua pointed out that to achieve this goal, the following two points must be done:
1. To eliminate inter-canine rabies, only if the rabies vaccination rate of dogs, cats and other animals reaches more than 70% can the inter-canine rabies be eliminated. Therefore, vaccinating animals is the most fundamental method.
2. Standardized treatment should be carried out as soon as possible after a person is bitten by an animal, including wound washing and disinfection, rabies vaccination, and injection of rabies immune globulin.
Tips: Dog Injury Clinic FAQs
Q: Why should I rinse the wound first after being bitten by an animal?
Answer: Irrigation can remove viruses, bacteria and dirt from the wound, reduce the infection of rabies virus or other bacteria, and help the wound heal faster. Thorough wound irrigation is the first line of defense against rabies.
Q: Why is rabies immune globulin injected after being bitten by an animal?
Answer: Rabies immune globulin is a protective antibody, which can directly kill the virus. It takes 1-2 weeks from vaccination to producing enough antibodies. Immune globulin can provide this time. Fastest and safest protection. It is worth noting that patients who have received rabies vaccine will still develop disease, and most of them will die without using immunoglobulin.
Q: Are there any taboos during vaccination?
Answer: There is no need to deliberately avoid food! Normal diet and daily exercise will not be affected during the vaccination period. It is recommended to avoid vaccinations on an empty stomach or after drinking alcohol as much as possible.
Q: What are the possible adverse reactions after vaccination?
A: Rabies vaccine is safe. However, because vaccines are biological products, adverse reactions cannot be completely avoided.
Common vaccine adverse reactions: fever, fatigue, poor appetite, pain at the injection site, induration, itching, most of which can be relieved without treatment or simple symptomatic treatment.
Rare adverse reactions include: allergic rash, anaphylactic purpura, angioedema, anaphylactic shock. The most serious of these is anaphylactic shock, with a very high mortality rate. Anaphylactic shock mostly occurs within 30 minutes after vaccination, so be sure to stay in the hospital for 30 minutes after vaccination.
Q: Will changing the vaccine brand during vaccination affect the immune effect?
Answer: When adverse reactions occur, or the same vaccine cannot be obtained, another vaccine must be replaced to complete subsequent vaccinations. This replacement does not affect immunity effects.
Q: Should I routinely test for antibodies after rabies vaccination?
Answer: For healthy people, effective antibodies can be produced after vaccination as required, so routine testing is not required. Antibody testing can be performed for patients with immunodeficiency (AIDS, etc.) or those who are taking immunosuppressive drugs (hormones or chemotherapy drugs, etc.).
Q: Can pregnant and lactating women get rabies vaccine?
Answer: Studies have shown that it is safe for pregnant women to receive rabies vaccine and will not affect the growth and development of the fetus. Breastfeeding women can also breastfeed normally after being vaccinated.
Q: Can my child get other vaccines during the rabies vaccine?
A: Yes. Rabies vaccine and other vaccines are vaccinated at the same time, and will not affect the immune effect of each other. Rabies vaccination should be given priority at all times.
Q: Can I get the rabies vaccine during the COVID-19 vaccine?
A: Yes. The new crown vaccination guidelines have clear guidelines: the new crown vaccine is not recommended to be vaccinated at the same time as other vaccines. The interval between other vaccines and the new coronavirus vaccine should be greater than 14 days. When rabies vaccine, tetanus vaccine and immune globulin need to be vaccinated due to animal injury, trauma, etc., the vaccination interval with the new coronavirus vaccine may not be considered.
Q: Do animal bite wounds need tetanus prophylaxis?