Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

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Rabies Immunization for Rehabilitators

Pre-exposure vaccinations are:

  • Recommended for all mammal rehabilitators
  • Required for Rabies Vector Species (RVS) authorization

Pre-exposure vaccines can be obtained at the University of Connecticut (UConn) Health Center, Route 4 in Farmington, Connecticut.

Getting your Pre-exposure Shots from the UConn Health Center:

  1. If you have concerns or questions about pre-exposure immunizations, contact the nurse at UConn at 860-679-2411. You will probably have to leave a message and they will return your call. 
  2. To make an appointment, call UConn's Occupational Medicine and Employee Health Services at 860-679-2893. Calls are received from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
  3. Be sure to mention that you are a Wildlife Rehabilitator and you would like to make an appointment for the 3-shot series. You will receive a pre-registration form and a 'blue card' for future visits. You will need to have a second shot seven days after the first and then the third shot 28 days after the day of your first shot. Note: You will not be considered immune to the virus until at least one month after the third shot.
  4. The cost of each vaccination must be paid at the time of your visit. There will be a total of 3 shots. Please call ahead to determine the price of the vaccine and vaccine administration.

Getting your Pre-exposure Shots from your Physician:

  1. Have your doctor call the company directly and give a prescription for Imovax by calling Connaught Laboratories at 1-800-VACCINE.
  2. Your doctor can then give you the shots or have the vaccine mailed to you (keep refrigerated) and you can have it administered at a walk-in clinic.

Getting Boosters:

It is recommended that a booster shot be given every 2 years after you have received your pre-exposure series. To arrange to check your titer, please contact UConn's Occupational Medicine and Employee Health Services at 860-679-2893. Please be prepared to pay at the time of your visit.

Important Reminder!

If you are bitten by a RVS, you must begin the 2-shot post-exposure vaccine promptly! Pre-exposure immunization does not eliminate the need for post-exposure treatment; it only reduces the cost and number of shots required in the post-exposure treatment. If you are in need of the post-exposure vaccine, please call UConn's Occupational Medicine and Employee Health Services at 860-679-2893.

How to Become a Wildlife Rehabilitator

 

Content last updated on December 27, 2019.