The article does specifically say "a person usually has some time," which is why I put it in quotes. There's no value to the article downgrading an urgent medical situation, and the author lists herself only as a journalist. The standard of care is urgent, ERs are equipped to give the shots. This is USA.

"An estimated 40,000 people in the United States who might not be up-to-date on vaccinations," again, I used quotes specifically because that is how it is worded, "people who might not be up-to-date on vaccinations," as it is less usual for someone to be up to date on rabies vaccinations.

The science was badly worded, as if it was copied without understanding the context, and this is a legitimate concern when the press misstates medical advice. The number is probably from the CDC information page,

"Every year, about 40,000 people receive a rabies prevention treatment called post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) because they had contact with potentially rabid animal."

CDC also doesn't say dog/cat bite or scratch, just potentially rabid animal, mostly dogs or cats.

I read the article, notices her carelessness, checked sources. There are more errors. It's badly done.