What is Rabies Immune Globulin (RIG)?
RIG is a special formulation of immune globulin used to treat persons who have been bitten by a suspected rabid animal and who have not had 3 doses of pre-exposure rabies vaccine. It is injected at the bite site to prevent the virus from attaching to the nerve endings and a portion is administered intramuscularly. RIG is not readily available throughout the world and, if available, it is extremely expensive. In developing countries it is not available. Therefore, persons at known risk of rabies exposure should receive pre- exposure vaccination with 3 doses of rabies vaccine. How many doses of vaccine are required and when are they given? Three (3) doses of Rabies vaccine are required pre-exposure. Dose #2 is given seven (7) days after dose #1 and dose #3 is given either on day #21 or #28 after dose #1. The schedule cannot be modified and must be completed prior to travel. Adult injections are given in the deltoid muscle of the arm; injections for infants and young children are given in
