What is the Rabies Vaccine?
The Rabies Vaccine is given over 28 days, where three doses are required. With this, we advise those who are travelling to specific areas (where this vaccination is recommended) to book an appointment in advance for guaranteed protection.
If you’re travelling to high-risk regions of rabies, such as parts of Asia, Africa, or Central and South America, it is strongly recommended that you have the vaccine if:
It is difficult to get medical help quickly where you’re travelling.
Where contact with infected animals may happen, where you are staying (e.g. while you’re out biking or running)
You are staying there for over a month
The rabies vaccine is therefore used to prevent rabies and prevent its symptoms if you’ve been exposed to it.
What is rabies?
Rabies is a serious infection that affects your brain and nerves. Once symptoms appear, the infection is almost always fatal. Therefore, ensuring you are protected as best as you can, with the help of our Rabies Vaccine service, can lower your risk.
Rabies is often caught from:
A bite or scratch from an infected animal (most often a dog)
In areas of the world where this infection is most common
In a small number of wild bats in the UK
Symptoms of rabies include numbness or a tingling sensation where you have been bitten or scratched, hallucinating, feeling very anxious or energetic, having problems swallowing or breathing and paralysis.
How effective is the vaccine?
Approximately 95% of people who receive all three doses of the rabies vaccine will have some protection against rabies.
It is important to know that the vaccine alone does not fully protect everyone from this deadly infection, so additional ways you can reduce your risk include locating the nearest urgent medical help during your stay and washing any animal bites or scratches with soap and water, alongside immediate medical attention.
In the UK, the rabies vaccine contains and destroyed version of the rabies virus, so your body can learn how to attack and protect you. However, as this is a killed version, there is no risk of you getting rabies from the vaccine.
When will I need my Rabies Vaccine?
You can access this vaccine at our branches offering the Travel Health Clinic service. While planning your holiday, it is advised that you consult with our pharmacist about the essential travel vaccines needed.
We advise that you speak to us about the rabies vaccine at least eight weeks before your trip abroad, as the full course of vaccinations (consisting of three doses) needs to be given several weeks before your departure.
