If the rabies vaccine is given one day late, if it means that all the vaccines are given one day late, the rabies virus neutralizing antibodies will also appear one day late and may not prevent rabies. Therefore, it is recommended that the first dose of rabies vaccine be given within 24 hours in order to produce the appropriate rabies neutralizing antibodies for protection in the next week or so. If the rabies vaccine is given one day late, it should not be a problem if it is the fourth or fifth dose. This is because the appropriate neutralizing antibodies are produced on the seventh day, and only a small percentage are produced by the fourth shot, which is given on the fourteenth day. The fifth shot is one day late and has no effect on antibody production. If it is the first three shots that are late, it may cause a delay in the appearance of rabies neutralizing antibodies.