Rabies vaccine - Rabies

The rabies vaccine helps:

• prevent rabies
• stop you getting symptoms if there's a chance you have been exposed to rabies

Who should get the rabies vaccine

People do not normally get the rabies vaccine unless they need it.

You may need it if you:

• travel to another country
• are at risk of getting rabies through your work
• may have been exposed to rabies - for example, if a dog bites you in a country where rabies is common

If you're travelling abroad

Get the rabies vaccine if you're travelling to a part of the world where rabies is common, especially if:

• you're going somewhere where it may be hard to get medical help quickly
• you might come into contact with infected animals - for example, you'll be doing lots of outdoor activities like cycling or running
• you're staying for over a month

Get advice from a travel clinic if you're not sure if you need the rabies vaccine for travel.

If you've been exposed to rabies

Get help quickly even if you've been vaccinated before. You may need extra doses of the rabies vaccine.

What to do if you have been bitten by or exposed to an animal in a foreign country - hpsc.ie

Who cannot have the rabies vaccine

Most people can get the rabies vaccine if they need it.

This includes:

• babies and children
• if you're pregnant or breastfeeding
• if you have a weak immune system

Rabies vaccines can contain:

• egg protein
• small amounts of antibiotics called polymyxin B, streptomycin and neomycin

Tell the person vaccinating you if you have a severe allergy to eggs or any of these antibiotics.

Where to get the rabies vaccine

You usually have to pay for the rabies vaccine for travel.

You can get it from:

• private travel vaccine clinics
• pharmacies with travel health services
• some GP surgeries (you still have to pay if the vaccine is for travel)

It's best to get advice at least 8 weeks before going abroad. This is because some vaccines (including the rabies vaccine) are not given to you all at once. You need more than 1 dose spread out over several weeks.

If you need the rabies vaccine because you're at risk through your work, talk to your employer about getting vaccinated.

How you get the rabies vaccine

The rabies vaccine is given as an injection. You usually get 3 doses that are given over 28 days.

If there's not enough time to have 3 doses in 28 days, you can have them:

• over 21 days
• sometimes over 7 days, with a booster dose given later

Booster doses

Most people who are travelling do not need a booster dose of the rabies vaccine.

But a one-off booster dose may be recommended if you're travelling to a place where rabies is a risk and it's been more than 1 year since you were first vaccinated.

If you're at risk of rabies through your work, you may need a booster after 1 year, followed by regular boosters every few years.

You can get the rabies vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

How well the rabies vaccine works and how long it lasts

Most people who have 3 doses of the rabies vaccine will have protection from rabies.

How long the protection lasts may be different for everyone. It usually lasts at least 1 or 2 years.

If you're risk of getting rabies is not going away anytime soon, you may need 1 or more booster doses of the rabies vaccine to make sure you stay protected.

Side effects of the rabies vaccine

Most of the side effects of the rabies vaccine are mild and do not last long.

They can include:

• swelling or pain where the injection was given
• a headache
• a high temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or above
• being sick
• a raised, itchy rash (hives)

More serious side effects such as a severe allergic reaction are very rare.

Contact your GP if you are concerned or your symptoms are worrying or severe.

The rabies vaccine used in Ireland contains a dead form of the rabies virus. You cannot get rabies from the vaccine.