How many rabies shots are administered after a mouse bite? - briefly
The typical post‑exposure protocol after a mouse bite involves four rabies vaccine injections given on days 0, 3, 7 and 14 for individuals without prior immunization. Immunocompromised patients receive an additional dose on day 28.
How many rabies shots are administered after a mouse bite? - in detail
A bite from a rodent is treated as a potential rabies exposure because the animal’s health status is often unknown. Immediate wound care—thorough irrigation with soap and water, followed by antiseptic application—reduces viral load before any prophylaxis.
Post‑exposure prophylaxis (PEP) consists of two components: passive immunisation with rabies immune globulin (RIG) administered once at the time of the first vaccine dose, and active immunisation with a rabies vaccine series. The standard schedule for healthy individuals includes four intramuscular injections of vaccine on days 0, 3, 7, and 14. An additional fifth dose on day 28 is recommended for patients with compromised immune systems, such as those receiving chemotherapy or with HIV infection.
Vaccine options approved in the United States are human diploid cell vaccine (HDCV) and purified chick embryo cell vaccine (PCECV). Each dose contains 1 ml of vaccine, injected into the deltoid muscle for adults and into the anterolateral thigh for infants and small children. The RIG dose is calculated at 20 IU per kilogram of body weight, with as much as possible infiltrated around the bite site; any remaining volume is given intramuscularly at a separate site.
If the biting mouse can be captured and observed for ten days without signs of rabies, the vaccination series may be discontinued, provided local health‑authority guidance permits. When observation is impossible, the full PEP regimen described above should be completed.
In summary, the conventional protocol requires four vaccine injections for immunocompetent persons, with a possible fifth dose for immunosuppressed patients, plus a single administration of rabies immune globulin at the initial visit.