Kokav vaccine and alcohol: compatibility and consequences

In case of contact with animals, and especially after a bite, a person has an increased risk of contracting rabies. This dangerous disease can only be prevented through urgent vaccination. One of the most popular rabies vaccines is Kokav.

This mutagenic drug is a deactivated rabies virus. After the drug penetrates the human body, the process of producing antibodies begins, the main task of which is to resist infection. On average this lasts about two weeks.

The course of vaccinations can take a long time, making it quite difficult for many people to abstain from drinking alcohol. Therefore, it is important to know how Kokav and alcohol interact with each other - what is permissible and what is strictly prohibited.

Instructions for use of rabies vaccine

The rabies vaccine Kokav is used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes.

To prevent rabies, vaccinations are performed according to the following schedule:

1. a mandatory course of primary immunization is carried out. The first injection is given to the victim directly on the day of the bite. The second is on the 7th day, and the third is on the 30th. During the entire course you must refrain from drinking any alcoholic beverages;
2. Exactly one year after the primary immunization, revaccination is carried out;
3. In the future, it is recommended to re-vaccinate every three years.

Treatment of rabies with the Kokav vaccine is carried out as follows:

1. if the victim has bites on the extremities, as well as on any parts of the body, and the animal’s saliva gets on even undamaged areas of the skin, it is necessary to administer a Kokav injection on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and 90 at a dosage of 1.0 ml;
2. if there are bites in the neck and head area, as well as if the animal’s saliva gets on the mucous membranes, a course of combined treatment with Kokav and immunoglobulin in a standard dosage is prescribed. Vaccination is carried out on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 and 90.

If no signs of rabies were detected in the bitten animal, treatment is stopped on the tenth day.

According to the instructions for use, the lyophilisate must be dissolved for at least 60 seconds and no longer than 5 minutes. Children are vaccinated in the anterolateral third of the thigh, and adults - in the upper third of the shoulder. It is prohibited to use this vaccine in the gluteal region.

In order to prevent the occurrence of dangerous adverse reactions, it is necessary:

• maintain a balanced diet;
• take multivitamin complexes for the whole body;
• take immunomodulator drugs as prescribed by the doctor;
• refrain from using antidepressants;
• avoid hypothermia and overheating of the body;
• try to prevent the development of colds.

Mechanism of operation of the drug

Kokava contains a small concentration of deactivated (that is, dead, not capable of causing disease) rabies virus, which, when it enters the human body, allows it to develop antibodies to the virus itself. On the 14th day, enough antibodies have accumulated to fight the disease, and full immunity occurs within a year after the start of vaccination. The drug can be used as prescribed by a doctor according to a schedule that is developed individually for each patient. Self-administration of the drug is unacceptable, since the drug has many side effects. They are divided into local and general reactions to the drug, require medical supervision and sometimes adjustment of the dosage and frequency of use of Kokava. It is thanks to the impressive list of undesirable reactions of the body to the vaccine that the medicine is administered exclusively on an outpatient basis as prescribed by the surgeon and the patient is under the supervision of medical workers for some time after the injection.

The main side effects caused by the drug Kokav include:

• pain at the injection site;
• swelling and inflammation of the injection site;
• swollen lymph nodes;
• fever;
• nausea;
• decrease in hemoglobin level in the blood;
• increased blood pressure;
• headache;
• general weakness of the body;
• various skin rashes;
• pronounced allergic reactions;
• nervous system disorders.

To avoid side effects from using Kokava, doctors do not recommend prophylactic injections of the vaccine in the following cases:

• inflammatory processes in the body, including colds;
• pregnancy;
• exacerbations of chronic diseases;
• immunodeficiency;
• alcohol intoxication of any severity.

If there is an obvious infection with rabies, all these conditions are not paid attention to, since there is a real threat to the patient’s life.

Prophylactically, Kokav needs to be administered even if the animal does not show signs of rabies, because mutations of the virus can lead to a longer incubation period and the animal can be infected but not yet sick. In addition, there are a number of professions whose representatives are constantly in contact with animals and are therefore at risk. These are dog breeders, foresters, farmers, virologists and veterinarians. They are prescribed preventive vaccinations at least once a year.

There is no need for Kokav vaccination if the animal’s saliva did not come into contact with the affected area of ​​the skin, and there was no direct bite or it occurred on clothing (the skin was not damaged). Vaccination is also not required if the pet that bit the victim has a certificate of vaccination against rabies.

For vaccination to be effective, it is carried out according to a special schedule approved by the doctor. For preventive purposes, Kokav is injected when visiting a doctor, then again after 7 and 14 days, the next vaccination follows after 3 months, and the final one is given exactly one year after the first injection. If infection of a person cannot be excluded, then a more dense vaccination schedule is prescribed.

The Kokav vaccine itself requires very careful handling, since the conditions for its storage and use must be strictly observed:

• the vaccine requires special temperature conditions during storage and transportation;
• the vaccine can only be diluted immediately before use, since the drug loses its properties within 5 minutes;
• the appearance of the ampoule must meet all medical requirements; the markings on it must be easy to read;
• if the diluted drug becomes cloudy, the vaccine is not used;
• The Kokava vaccine is given in the muscles of the forearm or thigh; the drug is not injected into the buttock.

Is it possible to drink alcohol during vaccination with Kokav?

The course of administration of the Kokav vaccine is a very serious test for the human immune system. The most critical and serious period occurs in the first three months, when the immune system begins to work in full force.

The rabies vaccine puts a significant burden on all organs, especially the liver. Moreover, even the slightest deviations in health status negatively affect the effectiveness of vaccination.

Alcohol in any form is one of the main prohibitions during the Kokav vaccination course. It is also strictly not recommended to consume alcoholic beverages and medications containing alcohol for another six months from the date of immunization.

Such warnings are due to the adverse effects of alcohol components on the body in conditions of weakened immunity:

1. The main component of alcoholic beverages, ethanol, enhances the side effects of the vaccine and provokes severe allergic reactions. It has a toxic effect on the liver and other organs. As a result of double load, the risk of complications increases;
2. when large doses of ethanol enter the body, the level of T-leukocytes in the blood decreases (they are the ones responsible for immunity);
3. The reaction of the vaccine composition to alcohol may be unpredictable.

Therefore, in order to avoid adverse consequences, it is necessary to completely abstain from alcohol throughout the entire vaccination period.

Modern doctors claim that only six months after the introduction of the third vaccination is a one-time consumption of light alcoholic beverages in minimal dosages allowed.

Drinks such as non-alcoholic beer and kvass containing 0.5 and 1.2% alcohol are allowed to be consumed after the third vaccination.

Is it possible to drink alcohol after vaccination?

For many years, experts have argued that Kokav is strictly prohibited from being used with alcohol. You should not drink for another six months after a person is vaccinated. This opinion of treating specialists also has its own scientific explanation.

Firstly , both Kokav and alcoholic drinks can have a negative effect on the patient’s liver. It may simply not withstand this type of load, which will come from two harmful compounds at once.

Secondly , alcohol can weaken the effect of the vaccine on the body, especially during the first two vaccinations.

Ultimately, the rate of severe allergic reactions in the human body may increase several times. The conclusion is this: the use of alcoholic beverages is prohibited not only during the immunization process (90 days), but also for another 6 months after its completion.

There is also a second opinion in the medical field . It is based mainly on the fact that during the USSR, completely different types of vaccines and according to different schemes were administered to those bitten. A patient with a bite was given 40 injections in the abdomen at once, and during the treatment he was also paid for his sick leave. Most at this time, out of forced, but much desired idleness, began to drink alcohol every day, bringing themselves to a terrible state, and also going on long binges. During the binge, the victim was unable to go to the clinic, so the vaccination process was often disrupted, the patient quickly acquired a severe form of rabies, and then died.

Of course, this is still possible.

But at the same time, some attending physicians say that a glass of champagne or wine, or a small glass of beer, taken once after the third vaccination, will definitely not cause any serious harm to the human body.

Some doctors are confident that the combination of alcoholic beverages and Kokav causes severe harm to the body, regardless of how much and on what day after the vaccination process the patient drank alcohol.

What decision should you make? Many factors will directly depend on the general condition of the patient, his immunity levels and individual response to vaccination. It is for this reason that everyone must decide for themselves whether it is worth risking their health for alcohol.

It should be added that Kokav is incompatible not only with alcoholic beverages:

1. The vaccine cannot be combined with glucocorticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
2. You should not give injections against brucellosis and vaccinate Kokav at the same time. The interval between such vaccines should be at least one month.
3. During immunization and for 6 months after it, you should carefully use medicinal tinctures containing alcohol, candies and confectionery products that contain alcohol.

Combining the Kokav vaccine and alcohol: consequences

The combination of alcoholic beverages with rabies vaccine during the immunization period causes significant harm to health.

Ethanol can increase the side effects of the drug several times, including:

• inflammation and swelling;
• nausea and vomiting;
• headache and dizziness;
• fever;
• anemia;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• development of allergic reactions.

In addition, as a result of combining the Kokav vaccine and alcohol:

• the load on the liver and other important organs increases;
• the number of T-leukocytes in the blood, responsible for the state of the human immune system, decreases.

Consequences of ignoring doctors' recommendations

The duration of the effect of any vaccine on health and the body is a 10-day period. In the process of exposure to such solutions, there is a possibility of any side effects. Traditionally, the consequences are as follows:

• gastric problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, pain),
• allergic reactions (rash, swelling, itching, hyperemia),
• headache and dizziness, migraine and other manifestations of weakness;
• apathy, drowsiness, increased aggressiveness and other mental disorders and abnormalities.

If a patient begins to combine rabies injections and alcohol, he risks experiencing increased symptoms of this phenomenon. Thus, an exacerbation of any chronic diseases may occur, and general weakness and malaise may appear. Or, conversely, alcoholic drinks will mask the dangerous manifestations of the disease and will interfere with timely diagnosis and treatment.

Other restrictions after vaccination

While undergoing a preventive or therapeutic course of Kokav injections, it is necessary to observe some other restrictions, in addition to drinking alcohol:

• rabies vaccine Kokav is incompatible with drugs from the categories of immunosuppressants and glucocorticosteroids;
• Simultaneous vaccination against rabies (Kokav vaccine) and against brucellosis is prohibited. A 30-day interval must be maintained between these two injections;
• directly during the immunization period, as well as for six months after it, it is necessary to take various medicinal tinctures with extreme caution, as well as consume sweets and confectionery products that contain alcohol;
• Vaccination is permissible only in clinical settings. Any attempts at self-medication in this case can be deadly;
• the optimal storage temperature for the vaccine (lyophilisate and solvent) is from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius;
• The diluted solution of the Kokav vaccine cannot be stored.

What do the experts say?

Rabies and alcohol, as well as the vaccine - are these things compatible? The instructions of the Russian Federation state that drinking alcoholic beverages during the vaccination process is unacceptable. Moreover, you should not drink it for the next six months. That is, it is recommended to abstain from this bad habit for a total of 9 months. But this is prohibited because there is a possibility of general and local allergies .
The injection itself during administration and over the next few hours can cause the following reactions:

• itching and desire to scratch at the site of the wound caused by the bite (in no case is it recommended to scratch the affected area of ​​the skin);
• swelling at the wound site;
• dizziness and pain in the head;
• migraine;
• joint pain;
• muscle weakness;
• vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and other gastrointestinal disorders;
• stomach ache.

This partly explains what the rabies vaccination is and why alcohol is prohibited.

The most dangerous phenomenon that can occur when injecting serum is anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal. If the rabies vaccine and alcohol are combined, these signs may be masked. Therefore, there is a danger of overlooking the necessary symptoms and ignoring further therapeutic actions, which will lead to complications and death. Although the risk of anaphylaxis is small (the probability is only 1 hundred thousandth of a percent), it exists. The mortality rate of this complication reaches 2%, so it is definitely not worth taking risks and neglecting the recommendations of specialists.

Another dangerous symptom that is a consequence of this disease is angioedema. This is a kind of allergy that occurs in up to 3% of practical cases of morbidity. How much danger does he carry? This pathology also threatens the life and health of the victim. If a person, while intoxicated, was bitten by an infected stray dog, then action must be taken urgently, without waiting for the victim to sober up and come to his senses. It is necessary to immediately begin providing prompt first aid, which consists of the following aspects:

• sobering up by washing the gastrointestinal tract and using sorbents, administering a drip;
• introduction of rabies vaccine to prevent rabies infection.

Thus, while you are taking treatment measures, you should not consume alcohol. As for the subsequent use of alcohol after completing a course of vaccinations, this aspect depends on the individual situation and should be discussed with the treating specialist.

Video on the topic

A practicing allergist-immunologist on whether it is possible to drink alcohol after rabies vaccination:

The Kokav vaccine is currently one of the most effective drugs against deadly rabies. It is important to keep in mind that its effectiveness is significantly reduced under the influence of alcohol.

Therefore, it is recommended to refrain from drinking alcohol during the entire immunization period. Light alcohol can be consumed in minimal quantities only six months after the third vaccination.