HRIG
Passive antibodies
Given once to eligible, previously unvaccinated people as part of PEP. A clinician manages how it is administered under current biologics guidance.
Vaccine
Active immune response
Given on a schedule so the body develops its own immune response. Vaccine and HRIG serve different roles and are not interchangeable.
Who receives HRIG?
CDC includes HRIG in PEP for eligible people who have not previously received rabies vaccination. Previously vaccinated people should not receive HRIG; CDC instead uses vaccine on days 0 and 3 for that group.
The treating team should confirm vaccination history and whether current guidance applies. Do not use this summary to classify an exposure or request a specific dose.
Timing and administration questions
CDC biologics guidance covers HRIG timing and administration. If it was not given at the first PEP visit, contact the treating clinician or health department promptly and ask them to apply the current guidance to the actual schedule.
SafeRabies intentionally does not provide a weight-based dose calculator or wound-specific administration instructions. Those are clinical tasks.
Questions to ask a facility
- Do you evaluate possible human rabies exposures?
- Can you confirm current HRIG and rabies vaccine availability before I travel?
- If not, which health department or nearby facility should I call?
- Who will document and coordinate the remaining vaccine dates?
Primary sources
Evidence last checked: August 23, 2026.