How do vaccines for rabies work after a bite?

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, so prevention after exposure is an emergency. If a person is bitten or scratched by a potentially rabid animal, doctors can give wound cleaning, rabies immune globulin, and a series of rabies vaccine doses. The immune globulin provides instant antibodies, while the vaccine teaches the body to make its own longer-lasting defense. This post-exposure prophylaxis is highly effective if given promptly, even after a high-risk exposure. Rabies remains a serious threat in parts of Asia and Africa, especially where dog vaccination is limited.