Rabies Vaccination

If you are planning travel to countries with a high risk of rabies (particularly Asia and Africa), especially for long-term stays (over 4 weeks), where medical care is inadequate, and where modern vaccines and immunoglobulin are in short supply, a prophylactic vaccination is recommended. However, even straightforward travel or accommodation conditions, or activities with an increased risk of exposure (e.g. cycling or motorbike tours), as well as foreseeable contact with mammals, including bats, also require such a vaccination as a preventive measure.

In particular, toddlers and children should be vaccinated generously, as they readily seek contact with animals and may not always be able to report (or may not always report) potential risk exposures.

The rabies vaccine is an inactivated vaccine and is administered into the muscle. The preventive vaccination for adults and children consists of three injections into the upper arm muscle on days 0, 7, and 21 (or 28). A rapid vaccination schedule is also available if you are planning a trip in the near future. For long-term protection, a booster vaccination should be given after one year, and subsequently depending on the level of exposure risk.

Important: Following contact with an animal suspected of having rabies, every person must be vaccinated. If you have already received several vaccinations, the risk is lower and you will require fewer follow-up injections.

To find out which vaccinations are advisable for your planned trip, simply book a travel medicine consultation appointment at one of our avi practices and discuss this with our medical team. The team will tell you what you should bear in mind so that you can travel safely and with peace of mind on your next trip.