Comprehensive medication guide to RabAvert including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is typically covered as a medical benefit under most private insurance plans and Medicare Part B, with copays varying by plan; pre-exposure vaccination (PrEP) for occupational risk is usually covered, while travel-related PrEP coverage varies by plan.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$393–$535 per dose (1 vial) at retail pharmacies; GoodRx prices start at approximately $393/dose and SingleCare coupons are approximately $388/dose at participating clinical facilities. Note: coupon prices may not apply at all settings (especially hospital EDs).
Medfinder Findability Score
45/100
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RabAvert is the brand name for rabies vaccine (purified chick embryo cell vaccine, or PCECV), manufactured by Bavarian Nordic. It is one of only two FDA-approved human rabies vaccines available in the United States — the other being Imovax (human diploid cell vaccine, HDCV) by Sanofi Pasteur. RabAvert holds approximately 77% of the U.S. market share for human rabies vaccines as of 2025.
RabAvert contains inactivated rabies virus (Flury LEP strain) grown in purified primary cultures of chicken fibroblast cells. The virus is inactivated with beta-propiolactone, making it incapable of causing infection. Each 1 mL dose contains at least 2.5 IU of rabies antigen. The vaccine is a freeze-dried powder that must be reconstituted with sterile diluent before intramuscular injection.
RabAvert is FDA-approved for all age groups for both pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) — vaccinating people at ongoing risk before exposure — and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) — vaccinating people as soon as possible after a potential rabies exposure to prevent the disease from developing.
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RabAvert is an inactivated virus vaccine. When injected, the inactivated rabies virus antigens are recognized by immune cells (antigen-presenting cells), which activate the immune system to produce virus-neutralizing antibodies (VNAs) specifically targeting the rabies virus. Antibody production begins 7–10 days after the first dose and provides long-lasting protection.
The vaccine also generates immunological memory — memory B and T cells that 'remember' the rabies virus. If a vaccinated person is later exposed to the live virus, these memory cells enable a rapid, robust antibody response. This is why previously vaccinated people need only 2 booster doses for PEP (rather than 5) and do not require Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG).
Post-exposure vaccination works because the rabies virus travels very slowly along nerve fibers toward the brain (incubation period typically 20–60 days). This delay gives the vaccine time to generate protective antibodies before the virus becomes irreversible. Once clinical symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal — making prompt vaccination after exposure critical.
2.5 IU / 1 mL — injection (intramuscular)
Single-dose vial; freeze-dried powder reconstituted with 1 mL sterile diluent before IM injection
1 mL (reconstituted) — injection (intramuscular)
Pre-exposure series: 2-3 doses on Days 0, 7, and 21 or 28. Post-exposure unvaccinated: 5 doses (Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28) + HRIG on Day 0. Post-exposure previously vaccinated: 2 doses (Days 0 and 3), no HRIG.
RabAvert is not in a formal FDA shortage in 2026 — Bavarian Nordic completed its manufacturing technology transfer in 2024 and supply is stable. However, RabAvert is genuinely difficult to find at most standard pharmacies. This is a structural issue, not a shortage: the vaccine requires refrigeration (2–8°C), must be administered by a healthcare professional, requires reconstitution before use, and costs $393–$535 per dose — making it financially risky for retail pharmacies to stock.
RabAvert is most reliably found at hospital emergency departments, travel medicine clinics, hospital pharmacies, occupational health clinics, infectious disease clinics, and county/state public health departments. Most retail pharmacy chains (CVS, Walgreens, etc.) do not routinely stock it.
If you're looking for RabAvert, medfinder can search nearby pharmacies and clinics on your behalf to identify which ones have it in stock and text you the results — saving you hours of phone calls.
RabAvert is not a controlled substance and requires no special DEA scheduling authorization to prescribe. Any licensed prescriber can order it. The key factor is which facilities stock and administer the vaccine — not prescriber type.
Telehealth is not applicable for RabAvert administration (vaccine must be given in person), but telehealth consultations may be used for pre-travel risk assessment or exposure risk evaluation to determine whether vaccination is needed.
No. RabAvert is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. It is a prescription vaccine that requires a healthcare provider's order and must be administered in a clinical setting. There are no special prescribing restrictions related to controlled substance scheduling for RabAvert.
While RabAvert does not have controlled substance restrictions, it does require a valid prescription and must be administered by a licensed healthcare professional in a medical setting equipped to manage rare allergic reactions. It cannot be self-administered at home.
Most side effects are mild and temporary, lasting 1–3 days:
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Imovax Rabies (HDCV)
Human diploid cell vaccine by Sanofi Pasteur; the only other FDA-approved human rabies vaccine in the U.S. Considered interchangeable with RabAvert by ACIP. Preferred for patients with severe egg allergies since it contains no egg protein.
HyperRAB (Rabies Immune Globulin)
Not a vaccine — passive immunization given with dose 1 of PEP for unvaccinated patients. Provides immediate antibodies while the vaccine builds active immunity. Also available as KedRAB.
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Corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)
majorMay reduce immune response to RabAvert; consider serologic testing post-series to confirm protective antibody levels.
Biologic immunosuppressants (adalimumab, infliximab, etanercept)
majorPharmacodynamic antagonism; reduces vaccine effectiveness. Serologic testing recommended post-series.
Chloroquine / Hydroxychloroquine
moderateMay inhibit antibody response to rabies vaccine. If possible, complete pre-exposure series before starting antimalarial prophylaxis.
Chemotherapy agents
majorSuppresses immune function and may reduce vaccine response. Serologic testing recommended.
Human Rabies Immune Globulin (HRIG)
majorShould NOT be given to previously vaccinated persons — interferes with anamnestic antibody response.
RabAvert is a critical vaccine that prevents one of the most uniformly fatal diseases known to medicine. It is safe, highly effective (virtually 100% when used correctly), and the dominant rabies vaccine in the U.S. market. Supply is stable in 2026 following Bavarian Nordic's completed manufacturing transition — but access remains concentrated in specialty settings rather than retail pharmacies.
For post-exposure situations, every hour matters — go directly to the nearest emergency department. For pre-exposure vaccination, plan ahead by at least 4–6 weeks and seek a travel medicine clinic or occupational health provider. If cost is a barrier, explore the GSK Vaccines Access Program, public health department resources, or insurance billing under your medical benefit.
If you need RabAvert and are having difficulty locating it, medfinder can help you quickly identify which pharmacies and clinics near you currently have it in stock — so you can get vaccinated without delay.
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