What should you know about the rabies vaccine?

Rabies vaccination may be discussed before travel or animal contact when exposure risk is higher or medical care may be difficult to reach. After a bite, scratch, or saliva contact with broken skin, a clinician assesses the animal and the exposure and may recommend post-exposure prevention. Previous vaccination changes the plan, so share any records. The vaccine cannot treat established rabies illness, which is why action before symptoms is essential.

Wash the exposed area immediately with soap and running water. Do not apply irritants or close a deep wound yourself. Avoid touching the animal again and record its appearance, location, and the time of contact if this can be done safely. Seek medical advice urgently and explain whether the skin was broken, whether saliva reached the eyes or mouth, and whether you have received rabies vaccine before.

Get urgent assessment after any bite or scratch from an unfamiliar, stray, wild, or unavailable mammal, or after saliva reaches broken skin, the eyes, or mouth. Seek prompt help for deep wounds, heavy bleeding, face or hand injuries, or redness, swelling, discharge, worsening pain, or fever. Do not wait for symptoms such as tingling, confusion, swallowing difficulty, or unusual agitation.

Ask whether you need pre-exposure or post-exposure vaccination, whether another medicine is required, how your previous doses affect care, and what symptoms or wound changes should trigger review.