Inactivated rabies virus particles.

Travellers for more than one month to areas with rabies, unless there is reliable access to prompt, safe medical care, or who may be exposed to rabies because of their travel activities, or those who would have limited access to post-exposure medical care. Additional vaccine information: Even if vaccinated, travellers who have sustained an animal bite must obtain urgent medical advice.

Three doses at 0, 7 and 28 days.

General issues: The single site, intradermal 0.1ml pre-exposure vaccine regimen should not be used in those taking chloroquine for malaria prophylaxis, as this suppresses the response. Specific issues: A confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of rabies vaccine, or a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to any component of the vaccine.

Pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers should only be given pre-exposure vaccination if the risk of exposure to rabies is high and rapid access to treatment would be limited.

Rabies vaccine may cause local reactions such as redness, swelling or pain at the site of injection within 24 to 48 hours of administration. Reactions such as headache, fever, muscle aches, vomiting and nettlerash are rare.