The sooner you are vaccinated against rabies after being scratched or bitten by an animal, the better. The best time to receive rabies vaccine is within 24 hours of the injury. After being scratched or bitten by an animal, you should first wash the wound with water and then visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention as soon as possible to receive the vaccine, and make sure you get all five shots on time to ensure that you have enough antibodies in your serum. The earlier the rabies vaccination is given, the sooner the body will develop antibodies and become immune to the rabies virus. The incubation period of the rabies virus in each person is inconsistent and usually develops 30-90 days after the injury. Therefore, rabies vaccination is still recommended even though the injury is more than 24 hours old, as long as the body produces enough antibodies to neutralize the rabies virus before the onset of the disease. After vaccination, patients need to take care of a light diet and rest, and avoid taking foods that affect the central nervous system such as coffee, alcohol and chocolate.