What should you know about inactivated rabies vaccine?

The vaccine contains rabies virus that has been inactivated, so it cannot cause rabies. It trains immune defences to respond to the virus. Pre-exposure vaccination may be discussed with people whose work, travel, or activities could bring them close to animals. After a bite, scratch, or saliva contact with broken skin, vaccination is part of urgent post-exposure care. The plan can depend on the wound, the animal, previous vaccination, and whether rabies risk can be assessed.

Wash a bite or scratch promptly with soap and running water, then seek urgent medical assessment even if the wound looks small. Do not wait for symptoms or for the animal to become unwell. A clinician will review whether vaccine is needed and whether rabies immunoglobulin or wound treatment should be added. Keep any vaccination record available, and describe when the contact occurred, where it happened, and the animal involved.

Seek emergency care immediately after a bite, scratch, or saliva exposure involving broken skin or the eyes, mouth, or nose. Urgent review is also needed if the wound is deep, bleeding, infected, or caused by a bat or unfamiliar animal. Fever, tingling near an old wound, difficulty swallowing, agitation, or unusual sensitivity to air or water are emergency symptoms; do not wait for them before asking for post-exposure care.

Ask whether your contact counts as a rabies exposure, which vaccine schedule applies, whether previous doses change the plan, and how the wound should be monitored. Confirm where follow-up doses will be given and what to do if an appointment is missed.