The most common side effects associated with the administration of the rabies vaccine are local reactions, such as pain, redness, swelling, and induration at the injection site. Mild systemic reactions, including headache, nausea, abdominal pain, myalgia, and dizziness have also been reported in up to 40% of recipients. Systemic allergic reactions (eg, urticaria, angioedema, fever) as well as anaphylactic reactions are rare. Local pain and low-grade fever might follow the administration of rabies immune globulin.1,2
It is important to emphasize that considering the rabies virus is fatal once symptoms develop, the benefits of administering both the rabies vaccine and immune globulin to a patient with a suspected exposure far outweigh any risks.
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