What should you know about the rabies vaccine?

Rabies can be transmitted when saliva from an infected animal enters a bite, scratch, wound, or mucous membrane. Vaccination may be recommended before travel or work that creates a recognised risk, or after contact with a potentially rabid animal. Post-exposure care is selected according to the animal, the contact, local risk, your previous vaccination, and the condition of the wound. The vaccine is not a treatment to self-start from a pharmacy after an exposure; clinical assessment determines what is needed, and other care may be considered alongside vaccination.

Wash the area immediately with plenty of soap and running water, then seek urgent medical care even if the wound looks minor. Do not wait for symptoms. If safe, note the animal's type, location, behaviour, and whether it can be observed, but do not try to catch or handle it. Tell the clinician when the contact happened, where saliva touched you, your previous rabies vaccines, allergies, and any condition or medicine that affects immunity. Follow every scheduled dose and wound-care instruction.

Any possible rabies exposure warrants urgent assessment, particularly a bite or scratch from a stray, wild, or unavailable animal, or saliva contact with broken skin, the eyes, nose, or mouth. Go to emergency care for uncontrolled bleeding, a deep wound, severe facial injury, or signs of a serious allergic reaction after vaccination, such as breathing difficulty or swelling of the face or throat.

Ask whether you need pre-exposure or post-exposure vaccination, how your schedule is determined, whether additional treatment is required, and what to do if a dose is delayed.