Rabies Vaccination

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a viral infection spread through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly through bites or scratches from dogs, bats, monkeys and other mammals. Once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. Prompt post-exposure treatment is effective, but access to the required injections and immunoglobulin is unreliable in many parts of the world where rabies is endemic.

Pre-exposure vaccination does not make you immune to rabies, but it gives you critical time to seek treatment after an exposure and reduces the number of post-exposure doses required.

Who needs the Rabies vaccine?

Pre-exposure Rabies vaccination is recommended for:

• Travellers to parts of Asia (particularly India, Thailand, Vietnam, Bali, the Philippines), Africa and Latin America
• Backpackers, cyclists and adventure travellers with extended itineraries
• Anyone travelling to remote areas where medical care is not easily accessible
• People with occupational exposure: veterinarians, wildlife workers, bat handlers
• Long-stay travellers, particularly those spending significant time in rural areas
• Travellers who may have contact with animals, even casually

About the vaccine course

The pre-exposure course consists of three doses given on days 0, 7 and 21 (or 28). All three doses should ideally be completed at least one week before travel. If time is short, an accelerated schedule may be possible, discuss this at your consultation.

Booster doses are recommended for those with ongoing risk every 3 to 5 years, or based on blood test results.

What to expect

Each dose is given as an injection into the upper arm. The injections are well tolerated. Mild soreness at the injection site for 24 to 48 hours is common.