Key points
- CDC has recommendations for pre-exposure prophylaxis for certain people.
- If your patient may have been exposed to rabies, contact your health department immediately for a risk assessment to determine eligibility for post-exposure prophylaxis.
- Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis includes wound washing, human rabies immune globulin, and a four-dose series of vaccines.
PrEP, PEP, and biologics information
Rabies can be prevented before and after exposure to rabies virus using rabies biologics including vaccine and immunoglobulins.
CDC has recommendations for people who are eligible for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), as well as more information about biologics.
Learn who's at risk for rabies and should receive pre-exposure prophylaxis for rabies prevention.
Necessary steps to take when a patient has been exposed to rabies.
More information about rabies biologics to prevent rabies, common errors. and adverse reactions.
Calendar tool for healthcare providers to create ACIP-based rabies PEP schedules.
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: July 16, 2025
Updated: July 16, 2025
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: August 6, 2025
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.