For the vast majority of people, rabies vaccination after 24 hours is useful, as long as it is still within the incubation period for rabies. Because the incubation period for rabies is usually 1-3 months, the rabies vaccine may still be effective even if given after 24 hours. After the rabies vaccination, it is usually necessary to wait 7-14 days before a more effective rabies neutralizing antibody is produced. This is also when the third or fourth of the five injection methods is given, which is when more effective neutralizing antibodies are produced. Therefore, even if the rabies vaccine is given after 24 hours, the production of effective neutralizing antibodies will only be delayed by 24 hours or more. In the case of particularly severe bites, it is likely that rabies will strike before the neutralizing antibodies are produced to an effective degree. This is coupled with passive immunization, that is, with the injection of rabies serum and rabies immunoglobulin.