What should you know about vaccination against rabies?

Rabies is a serious viral infection spread mainly through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite or scratch. Pre-exposure vaccination may be discussed with people whose work or travel creates a foreseeable risk. Post-exposure care is different: vaccination may be combined with wound care and other treatment after a bite, scratch or saliva contact with broken skin. Previous vaccination does not remove the need for assessment.

Wash a bite or scratch immediately with plenty of soap and running water, then seek urgent medical advice even if the wound looks small. Do not wait for symptoms. Record the animal’s description, the time and place of contact, and whether it can be safely identified, but do not try to catch it. A clinician will assess the exposure, vaccination history and need for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

Seek emergency care immediately after a bite, scratch or saliva exposure that may have involved a rabies-risk animal. Urgency is especially high for injuries to the face, head, neck or hands, deep wounds, or contact involving a child. Once symptoms begin, rabies can cause fever, unusual sensations near the wound, agitation, confusion, difficulty swallowing or fear of water. Do not wait for these signs before getting help.

Ask whether the exposure needs a vaccine course, whether additional treatment is required, how to care for the wound, and what follow-up appointments are needed. Mention every possible contact, even if the animal appeared healthy.