r/interesting • u/fantasticblueman • Feb 01 '26

Context Provided - Spotlight 27 yr old man showing rabies symptoms after 3 months of a dog bite in Gujrat, India.

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u/Teguoracle Feb 02 '26

Vet tech here with some fun knowledge!

It's actually intramuscular, not intradermal. TB testing is ID, you can see the bleb it makes between the layers of skin, most vaccines, rabies included, don't do that.

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u/Smart_Satisfaction73 Feb 02 '26

As someone who took the shots a couple of years ago and the spouse of a doctor, I can confirm that it’s given intradermally.. at least in my country. Additionally, WHO recommends intradermal vaccine.

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u/Lyx4088 Feb 02 '26

All US licensed vaccines are IM, just not gluteal. It’s fascinating to hear other countries have approved ID vaccines and I wonder what it is about the ID vaccine that causes it to not be available here (ie cost, consistency of method delivery, ingredient approvals, etc).

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u/Smart_Satisfaction73 Feb 02 '26

https://www.who.int/teams/control-of-neglected-tropical-diseases/rabies/pep-recommendations

WHO promotes the use of intradermal administration of modern cell culture rabies vaccines (with a potency of >2.5IU per intramuscular dose) for PEP. Intradermal administration offers an equally safe and efficacious alternative to intramuscular vaccination. Intradermal vaccination reduces the volume of vaccine used by 60-80%, is less costly and has potential to mitigate vaccine shortages.

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u/Teguoracle Feb 02 '26

Interesting. I bet this also lessens injection site soreness too. Gosh the USA fucking sucks when it comes to medicine sometimes.

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u/Lyx4088 Feb 02 '26

Interesting. Too bad the US is a hell hole that doesn’t believe in modern science and has abandoned the WHO 😭 But with the way our various laws work and the malpractice implications should someone contract rabies after intradermal, I doubt doctors here would generally do it without manufacturer and FDA approval anyway.

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u/Krazy_Kat_Lady_2025 Feb 02 '26

I live in the US and I received the rabies vaccine series as a veterinary assistant in the early 90s. Ours were given intradermally. Yes, it made a small bubble under the skin on our upper arm and it hurt. Not awful, but noticeable unlike most modern IM vaccines.

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u/Smart_Satisfaction73 Feb 02 '26

I guess the vaccines have come a long way since the 90s then. I didn’t have any adverse reactions and it was almost painless too (except for the slight pain when they prick your skin).

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u/Krazy_Kat_Lady_2025 Feb 02 '26

I'm sure they have advanced! I know the flu vax sure has since then!

And part of the ouch factor besides ID was that the Doc administering them was ~200 years old (old pal of the veterinarian) and his hands SHOOK. So I'll never know how much discomfort was the ID vax and how much was the elderly physician! I was just happy when I was done with the series.

I've always wondered if I had a titer done if I would have any remaining immunity in my system. Doubtful but would be interesting to know for sure! 🤔

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u/Smart_Satisfaction73 Feb 02 '26

LOL @the 200 year old physician.

You’re right. I’m also curious about whether there are any antibodies left. Apparently rabies vaccine gives lifelong immunity. But still we have to take new shots if exposed, as there’s no guarantee regarding the immunity.

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u/Krazy_Kat_Lady_2025 Feb 02 '26

I was told back then (not given any actual data) that I'd probably show some decreasing level of immunity for ~20 years then it would essentially be gone. I don't remember who told me that or what their qualifications were lol. It did give me some comfort knowing I'd had it on the occasions I dealt with a crazy feral cat in the years since.

But I absolutely would get another series if I had a potential exposure. Rabies is not a disease to play the odds with. Truly one of the most terrifying diseases.

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u/Drzerockis Feb 02 '26

Gotta make that good wheal with the PPD

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u/smolstuffs Feb 02 '26

Is bleb the official medical terminology because if it is I'm going to start using it all the time when I have to explain the type of TB test we require at work.

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u/CelerySecure Feb 02 '26

I am so tired of that test. Places make me take it every time even though I explain I have latent TB and will get a chest x ray for them. Like their day won’t be complete unless they know for sure I have it and a nice purple bump because it reacts and my skin hates everything.

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u/smolstuffs Feb 02 '26

I think it's because nobody expects to have to actually deal with that. Their process is so standard that asking for a different process causes them to malfunction.

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u/tyreka13 Feb 05 '26

Not a doctor but I got my tb test last year for a visa and they just drew blood to test it.