Rabies Vaccination – intradermal
Vaccination content
Inactivated rabies virus particles.
Who should be vaccinated?
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.
Vaccine dose
Three doses at 0, 7 and 28 days.
When to get vaccinated
Who should not be vaccinated?
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.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
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.
Duration of immunity
Side effects
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.