What does rabies PEP include?
When PEP is indicated, CDC describes three parts for people who have not previously received rabies vaccination: immediate wound care, a dose of human rabies immune globulin (HRIG), and a rabies vaccine series.
Wound care
Thorough washing and flushing are part of PEP and should begin as soon as possible.
HRIG
Passive antibodies are given once to eligible people who were not previously vaccinated.
Vaccine
Vaccine prompts the body to develop its own immune response over the scheduled series.
Who decides whether PEP is indicated?
A professional rabies exposure assessment considers the type of contact, animal species and behavior, where the contact occurred, local rabies epidemiology, and whether the animal can be observed or tested. Vaccination status alone does not let this website make the decision.
Animal observation or laboratory testing may inform public-health recommendations. Follow the clinician or health department managing the case; do not capture, handle, or release an animal based on this page.
Standard U.S. vaccine schedule
For a previously unvaccinated person without an immune disorder, CDC guidance uses four intramuscular vaccine doses. Day 0 is the day the first vaccine dose is given, not necessarily the day the contact occurred.
| Visit | CDC schedule | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | First vaccine dose | HRIG plan if eligible |
| Day 3 | Second vaccine dose | Written future dates |
| Day 7 | Third vaccine dose | Where follow-up is available |
| Day 14 | Fourth vaccine dose | Completion record |
People with immune disorders receive additional management under CDC guidance, including a fifth vaccine dose on day 28 and follow-up testing. The treating clinician should tailor and document that plan.
If you were previously vaccinated
CDC guidance says previously vaccinated people should not receive HRIG. Their PEP vaccine schedule consists of two doses, on days 0 and 3. Bring documentation of the prior series if available so the treating team can confirm which schedule applies.
HRIG versus rabies vaccine
HRIG supplies temporary passive antibodies near the start of PEP, while vaccine helps the body build its own immune response. They serve different purposes and are not interchangeable. HRIG is not given to people who were previously vaccinated.
Administration details belong to the treating clinician. If HRIG was not given at the first visit, ask that clinician or public health what current CDC biologics guidance means for your schedule rather than trying to calculate timing or dosage yourself.
Read the dedicated HRIG guideQuestions to ask before leaving the facility
- Which date counts as day 0 for my written schedule?
- Which facility will provide each follow-up vaccine dose?
- Does my prior rabies vaccination history change this plan?
- Does an immune disorder or immune-suppressing medicine affect the schedule?
- Who should I call if a dose is delayed or the animal is later tested?
- Can I receive a copy of the product, lot, dose, and visit records?
Common questions about rabies PEP
Who decides whether rabies PEP is indicated?
A clinician or public-health authority should assess the contact, animal, location, local rabies activity, and whether the animal can be observed or tested. This page explains the U.S. regimen but cannot decide whether PEP is indicated for one person.
What is the U.S. rabies vaccine schedule after an exposure?
CDC guidance for a previously unvaccinated person without an immune disorder uses vaccine on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. Day 0 is the date of the first vaccine dose, not necessarily the date of the exposure.
What changes for someone previously vaccinated against rabies?
Under CDC guidance, previously vaccinated people receive vaccine on days 0 and 3 and should not receive HRIG. A clinician should confirm that a prior vaccination course qualifies.
What if a vaccine appointment is delayed?
Contact the treating clinician or health department rather than restarting or changing the series yourself. CDC provides a PEP schedule calculator for clinicians and public-health professionals to evaluate schedule deviations.
Can a website tell me to start or stop PEP?
No. Observation or testing of an animal may inform a public-health decision, but a clinician or public-health authority should determine whether PEP is indicated and whether an existing course should change.
Sources and evidence review
U.S. schedules on this page use the CDC framework. WHO is included for global context and wound-care guidance; WHO exposure categories are not presented here as CDC classifications.
- CDC — Rabies Post-exposure Prophylaxis Guidance
- CDC — Rabies Biologics
- CDC — Clinical Screening for Rabies PEP
- WHO — Rabies fact sheet
Evidence last checked: September 5, 2026.