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Hi Mia,
The rabies vaccination type that has been used for a long time in cats uses a killed form of the rabies virus to develop immunity without risk for developing infection. Killed virus vaccines are considered very safe. The risk for cats has not been how the immune response is acquired but has been the adjuvant, which is what is part of the liquid vehicle of the vaccine that is injected to deliver it and was associated with vaccine site tumors in cats. This is the reason why there is a cat-specific rabies vaccine and we avoid use of the dog/cat vaccine whenever possible. Updated forms of the cat specific rabies vaccine have been adjuvant free and I have not seen that complication (or heard of it from colleauges) in at least ten years.
The other common form, also having been around for some time, is a recombinant vaccine where a modified canarypox virus is used to stimulate immunity to rabies.
While I have heard of an RNA particle-based rabies vaccine either recently developed or released, it has not been widely adopted to my knowledge. It is appropriate to talk to your vet about the type they carry or use.
It is very routine for rabies vaccination to be a requirement for routine care, unless there is some health or immunity conflict for the patient. As rabies is invariably fatal to any human or animal, it is endemic in our wildlife populations, and vaccinating humans routinely is not practical, we rely on vaccination of our pets not only to protect them but as a barrier to the risk of human infection as well.
While a reaction to any vaccine is possible because it stimulates the immune system, the chance of a serious concern is very low. I vaccinate probably close to or over 1000 cats per year and a concern following a vaccine appointment is fairly uncommon.