Quick answer
Yes, you may need a rabies shot if a bat touches your bare skin. Any direct contact with a bat puts you at risk of exposure to rabies, since bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the United States. If you are touched by a bat, immediately wash the area with soap and water, and contact your doctor or local health department to determine if you need rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).
What are the risks of rabies transmission from a bat?
Bats are the main source of human rabies infections in the United States. According to the CDC, 70% of rabies cases acquired in the U.S. are caused by bat rabies variants.
Bats have small teeth that may leave marks that are undetectable. Even if you do not see a bite or scratch mark, rabies virus-infected saliva from a bat can enter your body through:
- Bites
- Scratches
- Open wounds
- Mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth)
Any physical contact with a bat puts you at risk of rabies exposure. Rabies has a nearly 100% fatality rate once symptoms start, so potential exposures should always be taken seriously.
When should you get the rabies PEP after a bat encounter?
The CDC provides the following recommendations if you have been touched by a bat:
- Immediately wash any bat bite or scratch wound with soap and water. Also flush exposed mucous membranes with water.
- Contact your doctor or local health department to report the bat encounter and determine if you need rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).
- PEP should be administered promptly after a potential rabies exposure, within 24-72 hours for best results.
- Even if PEP was not started immediately, it should still be given up to 8 days after the initial exposure.
Do not wait until symptoms of rabies start to appear before seeking treatment. By that point, it is almost always too late for PEP to be effective.
Should you get the rabies vaccine if a bat touched your clothes?
If a bat merely touched your clothes without touching your bare skin, the risk of rabies transmission is very low. Simply touching your clothes does not constitute exposure.
However, bats have very small teeth and you may not always notice a minor bite or scratch through clothing. For this reason, the CDC says to contact a healthcare provider after any physical bat encounter, even if you believe it just touched your clothes. They can help assess your specific situation and determine if PEP is recommended.
What if you find a bat in your room while sleeping?
Discovering a bat in your bedroom while you were sleeping represents a potential rabies exposure that should be evaluated.
Bats have small teeth and can bite without waking a sleeping person. There also may have been unnoticed physical contact. For these reasons, the CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider after any incident where a bat is present in your room while sleeping.
They will help determine if rabies PEP is necessary based on factors such as:
- If the bat was captured and tested
- If bite marks or scratches are present
- If the person can rule out physical contact while awake
Do not assume you are fine just because you did not wake up during a bite. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms start, so bat exposures should not be taken lightly.
How much does the rabies vaccine series cost?
The cost for rabies postexposure treatment can vary depending on factors like:
- Healthcare provider and facility
- Insurance coverage
- Type of vaccine used
- Number of doses based on weight
According to recent data, the typical cost ranges from:
- Rabies immune globulin (one-time dose): $200 – $300
- Rabies vaccine series: $1,000 – $3,000+
Many insurance plans cover rabies PEP under urgent/emergency care. However, some plans may only cover a portion of the total cost. Check with your provider for specific coverage details.
If you are uninsured or underinsured, contact your state or local health department about possible assistance programs for rabies treatment. The cost should not deter you from promptly seeking care after a bat encounter.
What are the rabies vaccine side effects?
The modern rabies vaccines used today are extremely safe and carry minimal risks of side effects. When side effects do occur, they tend to be mild.
Common side effects from the rabies vaccine include:
- Soreness, redness, swelling at injection site
- Headache
- Nausea
- Abdominal pain
- Muscle aches
- Dizziness
Rare but serious side effects like severe allergic reaction are possible but hardly ever occur.
Side effects from the rabies immune globulin injection include mild soreness and slight bleeding at the injection site. Discomfort from the injections themselves is common as well.
Always complete the full PEP series as prescribed, even if you experience common vaccine side effects. Do not risk going untreated after a rabies virus exposure.
Conclusion
Any direct contact with a bat should be promptly evaluated for potential rabies risk by a healthcare provider or health department. They can determine if rabies PEP (postexposure prophylaxis) is recommended based on details of the exposure.
Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms start, so do not hesitate to seek medical advice after encounters with bats involving:
- Bites
- Scratches
- Saliva contact
- Sleeping in a room with a bat
- Uncertain contact while asleep
While costly, rabies PEP is crucial when recommended and could save your life. The small risk of minor vaccine side effects is infinitely preferable to developing this deadly disease. With appropriate treatment after an at-risk encounter, rabies can be fully prevented.