Travel vaccine
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is a viral infection of the nervous system that is almost always fatal once symptoms begin. It is spread through the saliva of infected animals — most often dogs — by bites, scratches or licks on broken skin. A pre-travel course of vaccine primes your immune system and makes treatment after a possible exposure far simpler.
If you're bitten abroad
Why the rabies vaccine matters if the worst happens
Having the vaccine means just 2 booster doses and no hard-to-source immunoglobulin after a bite. See the full post-exposure treatment guide, based on UK (UKHSA) guidance.
Key facts
Who it's for
Travellers to areas where rabies occurs — especially long, rural or remote trips
Vaccination course
A short course of doses over up to 3–4 weeks; accelerated options may be possible
Minimum age
None — suitable for children and adults
When to start
Ideally 3–4 weeks before you travel
After a bite (if vaccinated)
Still seek urgent care — usually only 2 further doses and rarely immunoglobulin
Where it's a risk
Asia (especially India), Africa, Latin America and the Middle East
Vaccine brands we use
Rabipur or Verorab — both licensed UK rabies vaccines
How it's given
An injection into the upper-arm muscle (intramuscular)
Type of vaccine
Inactivated — contains no live virus and cannot cause rabies
What is Rabies?
Rabies is caused by a lyssavirus that attacks the central nervous system. It is passed to people through the saliva of an infected animal, usually by a bite but also through scratches or a lick on broken skin or the eyes, nose or mouth. Dogs are responsible for the vast majority of human cases worldwide, but cats, monkeys, bats and other mammals can also carry the virus.
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal — but it is virtually 100% preventable. Prompt wound washing and post-exposure treatment after any possible contact will prevent the disease. Having the pre-travel (pre-exposure) vaccine does not remove the need for treatment after a bite, but it means you need fewer doses afterwards and are far less likely to need rabies immunoglobulin, which can be very difficult to obtain in many parts of the world.
Risk areas
Rabies is present across much of the world, with the highest risk in Asia (India has the greatest burden), Africa, parts of Latin America and the Middle East. Risk is greatest where there are large stray-dog populations, limited animal vaccination programmes and reduced access to medical care. Rural and remote areas generally carry more risk than major cities. The UK and a small number of other countries are free of rabies in land animals, though some bats can carry a rabies-like virus.
Risk for travellers
Any traveller can be exposed if bitten, scratched or licked by an infected animal — and animals can appear healthy. Risk is higher on longer or remote trips, when cycling, running or backpacking, when working with or around animals, and for young children, who are more likely to approach animals and less likely to report a bite. Pre-exposure vaccination is especially worth considering when prompt, reliable medical treatment may be hard to reach.
What are the symptoms of Rabies?
- Fever, headache and general malaise early on
- Pain, tingling or itching at the site of the bite
- Anxiety, agitation or confusion
- Hydrophobia (fear or difficulty with water)
- Excessive salivation and difficulty swallowing
- Muscle spasms, then paralysis
How does the Rabies Vaccine work?
Because rabies is fatal once symptoms develop, prevention is everything. If you are travelling somewhere that treatment could be delayed or hard to access, a pre-travel course of vaccine is well worth considering. It will not replace urgent care after a bite, but it simplifies that care considerably — fewer doses and, in most cases, no need for hard-to-source immunoglobulin. We will tailor the schedule to your destination, activities and how long you have before you travel. We stock both UK-licensed rabies vaccines, Rabipur and Verorab, and use whichever is appropriate and available for you. Both are inactivated vaccines and are given as an injection into the upper-arm muscle (the intramuscular route).
Book your appointment for Rabies Vaccine right now.
Who should consider the rabies vaccine?
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is recommended for travellers whose plans increase the chance of animal contact or make prompt treatment harder to reach. It is worth discussing if any of the following apply:
- Longer stays, or rural and remote travel away from reliable medical care
- Activities with animal contact — volunteering, wildlife or veterinary work, caving (bats)
- Cycling, running or backpacking, where you're more likely to encounter stray dogs
- Travelling with young children, who may not avoid animals or report a bite or scratch
- Destinations where rabies vaccine or immunoglobulin may be in short supply
The vaccination course
A pre-travel course is given as a small number of doses over up to three to four weeks. If your trip is sooner, an accelerated schedule may be possible — so it's best to contact us as early as you can.
Whether you need a booster later depends on your ongoing risk; we'll advise you based on UK (UKHSA) guidance. We will confirm the exact schedule that's right for you at your appointment.
The rabies vaccines we use
We hold both rabies vaccines licensed in the UK — Rabipur and Verorab — so we can vaccinate you without delay using whichever is appropriate and available on the day. Both are well-established, widely used vaccines suitable for adults and children of any age.
Both are inactivated vaccines: they contain no live virus and cannot give you rabies. The difference between them is simply how each is produced — Rabipur (made by Bavarian Nordic) is grown on purified chick embryo cells, while Verorab (made by Sanofi) is grown on Vero cells. For travel pre-exposure protection the two are considered clinically equivalent, so for most people there is no reason to prefer one over the other.
Whichever brand you have, the vaccine is given the same way — as a small injection into the muscle of your upper arm (the intramuscular route licensed for both vaccines). If you start a course with one brand and we later need to use the other, that's fine: the vaccines are interchangeable and your course still counts. If you have a specific allergy — for example to eggs — let us know and we'll choose the most suitable option for you.
- Rabipur — inactivated, grown on purified chick embryo cells (Bavarian Nordic)
- Verorab — inactivated, grown on Vero cells (Sanofi)
- Both given by injection into the muscle (intramuscular)
- Both suitable for all ages and considered equivalent for travel; the two are interchangeable within a course
If you're bitten, scratched or licked abroad
Act quickly — correct first aid and prompt treatment are highly effective at preventing rabies, even after a high-risk exposure:
- Wash the wound with soap and running water for several minutes
- Apply an antiseptic such as iodine or alcohol if available
- Seek medical care immediately for post-exposure treatment
- If you had the pre-travel course you'll usually need just two further doses; if not, you'll need a full course and possibly immunoglobulin
- Keep a written record of any treatment so it can be completed correctly when you get home
Possible side effects
The rabies vaccine is well tolerated. Most side effects are mild and short-lived:
- Soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given
- Headache, mild fever, muscle aches or tiredness
- More significant reactions are uncommon
Protecting yourself beyond the vaccine
Vaccination lowers your risk but bite avoidance still matters. Wherever rabies occurs:
- Avoid touching, feeding or approaching stray or wild animals
- Supervise children closely around animals
- Stay away from any animal behaving strangely or aggressively
- Always seek urgent medical advice after any bite, scratch or lick — even if you've been vaccinated
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
References
Trusted resources
By destination
Where we recommend the Rabies Vaccine
Travelling somewhere specific? This vaccine is commonly advised for these destinations — open any guide for the full travel-health picture.
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