Rabies Vaccine Overview
Rabies is a rare but extremely serious viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. It is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it can be prevented when the correct treatment is provided quickly after exposure.
Rabies is usually caught through the bite or scratch of an infected animal. Dogs cause most human infections worldwide, although cats, monkeys, bats and other mammals may also carry the virus.
Pre-Exposure Vaccination
Pre-exposure vaccination is given before travel. It prepares the immune system to respond more quickly if a traveller is later bitten, scratched or exposed to potentially infected animal saliva.
How Is Rabies Transmitted?
The rabies virus is present in the saliva of an infected animal. Transmission can occur even when an injury seems minor.
- A bite from an infected animal
- A scratch that breaks or damages the skin
- Animal saliva entering an open wound
- Saliva contacting the eyes, nose or mouth
- Handling an infected or unusually behaving bat
- Licking of broken skin by a potentially infected animal
Rabies is not normally spread by touching an animal’s fur or through ordinary contact with another person.
Who May Need Rabies Vaccination?
Vaccination may be recommended for travellers visiting places where rabies is present, particularly when rapid access to reliable post-exposure treatment may be difficult.
- Long-stay travellers spending over one month abroad
- People visiting rural or remote destinations
- Travellers with limited access to medical treatment
- Cyclists, runners, campers and outdoor travellers
- Children likely to approach or play with animals
- Animal sanctuary or wildlife volunteers
- Veterinary and animal-care workers
- Frequent travellers to rabies-risk destinations
How Is the Rabies Vaccine Given?
The rabies vaccine is given by injection, usually into the upper arm. Current UK travel guidance generally recommends a three-dose pre-exposure course.
- Standard course: days 0, 7 and 21 or 28
- Accelerated course: days 0, 3 and 7 where appropriate
- A later dose may be advised after an accelerated course if risk continues
The most appropriate schedule will depend on your departure date, age, medical history, previous doses and ongoing exposure risk.
Rabies Vaccination for International Travel and Animal Exposure
Hampstead Travel Clinic provides private rabies vaccination for suitable adults and children travelling to risk areas. Our experienced pharmacy team will review your destination, duration of travel, planned activities, access to medical care and likelihood of animal contact before recommending an appropriate vaccination course.
When Should Rabies Vaccination Be Considered?
The decision is based on the type of trip as well as the destination. Vaccination becomes more important when treatment could be difficult to access or when activities increase the likelihood of contact with dogs, monkeys, bats or other mammals.
- Travel to Asia, Africa or Latin America
- Remote or rural accommodation
- Limited access to emergency treatment
- Trips lasting longer than one month
- Cycling, running or camping
- Animal sanctuary or wildlife work
- Travelling with young children
- Frequent travel to rabies-risk regions
Your Rabies Vaccination Appointment
We will assess your itinerary and plan a suitable course around your travel dates.
Review Your Journey
We assess your destinations, duration, activities and access to care.
Check Your History
We review previous rabies vaccines, medicines and allergies.
Receive Your First Dose
When suitable, the first rabies vaccination is administered.
Complete the Course
We schedule the remaining doses and provide a vaccine record.
Avoiding Animal Bites and Scratches
Animals carrying rabies may appear healthy or friendly. Vaccinated travellers should still avoid unnecessary contact with domestic and wild animals.
- Do not stroke or feed stray dogs and cats
- Do not approach monkeys, even at tourist attractions
- Avoid holding or handling bats
- Do not touch animals that appear unusually tame or unwell
- Keep food and rubbish secured so animals are not attracted
- Supervise children carefully around animals
- Avoid running or cycling close to aggressive dogs
- Do not assume a small scratch is harmless
Rabies Vaccination in Hampstead, North West London
Hampstead Travel Clinic is located inside Allchin Pharmacy at 28 Englands Lane, London, NW3 4UE. We provide private pre-travel rabies vaccination for adults and children from Hampstead and surrounding North West London areas. Standard and accelerated appointments may be available, subject to departure date, vaccine stock and clinical suitability.
- Hampstead
- Belsize Park
- Swiss Cottage
- Finchley Road
- St John’s Wood
- Primrose Hill
- West Hampstead
- Camden
- Kentish Town
- Gospel Oak
- Chalk Farm
- Golders Green
- Kilburn
- Highgate
Rabies Vaccination FAQs
Helpful answers for travellers considering private rabies vaccination in Hampstead.
Do I need a rabies vaccine for travel?
Vaccination may be recommended when travelling to a country where rabies is present, particularly if you will stay for a long time, visit remote areas or may struggle to access reliable emergency treatment.
Your activities, accommodation and likelihood of animal contact are as important as the country itself.
Which countries have a risk of rabies?
Rabies occurs across much of the world. The greatest number of human cases occurs in parts of Asia and Africa, although risk is also present in areas of Central and South America and elsewhere.
Destination-specific guidance should be checked for every trip.
How many rabies vaccine doses will I need?
Current UK travel guidance generally recommends three pre-exposure doses given on days 0, 7 and 21 or 28.
An accelerated three-dose schedule on days 0, 3 and 7 may sometimes be used when travel is approaching. A later dose may be advised if ongoing risk continues.
Can I have an accelerated rabies vaccine course?
An accelerated schedule may be considered when there is insufficient time to complete the standard 21-to-28-day course.
Suitability depends on your age, vaccine product, departure date and individual clinical circumstances.
How long before travelling should I start vaccination?
You should ideally arrange travel health advice at least six to eight weeks before departure. The standard course requires several appointments over approximately three to four weeks.
Contact the clinic even if you are travelling sooner, as an accelerated schedule may sometimes be possible.
Does the vaccine completely protect me from rabies?
No. Pre-exposure vaccination prepares your immune system and can simplify treatment after an exposure, but it does not remove the need for urgent medical care.
Further rabies vaccine doses are normally required after a bite, scratch or other significant exposure.
Will I still need rabies immunoglobulin after vaccination?
People who have completed an appropriate pre-exposure course will usually require fewer vaccine doses following exposure and may not require rabies immunoglobulin in most circumstances.
The exact treatment must be decided urgently by a qualified healthcare professional after assessing the exposure.
Do children need rabies vaccination?
Children may be at particular risk because they are more likely to approach animals and may not report a small bite or scratch.
Rabies vaccination can be suitable for children following an assessment of the destination, duration and planned activities.
Do I need vaccination for a short holiday?
Many short-stay travellers may not require rabies vaccination. However, it can still be considered for trips involving remote areas, significant animal contact, cycling, running or limited access to post-exposure treatment.
What should I do after a monkey bite or scratch?
Wash the wound immediately with soap and running water for around 15 minutes and seek urgent medical advice locally.
Monkey exposures should be treated seriously even when the animal lives at a recognised tourist attraction or the injury appears minor.
What should I do after contact with a bat?
Seek urgent medical advice after any bite, scratch or direct contact with a bat, including contact in the UK.
Bat injuries can be small and difficult to see, so do not dismiss an incident because the skin damage appears minor.
Will I need a rabies booster?
Routine boosters are not required for most ordinary travellers. A one-off booster may be considered following a risk assessment if you completed a course more than one year ago and are travelling again to a high-risk area.
People with ongoing occupational exposure may need a different booster or blood-test schedule.
Can rabies vaccination be given during pregnancy?
Rabies vaccination may be given during pregnancy when the risk justifies vaccination. Pregnancy is not a reason to delay urgent post-exposure treatment.
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant, may be pregnant or are breastfeeding so your circumstances can be assessed.
What are the common vaccine side effects?
Common temporary effects include pain, redness, itching or swelling around the injection site. Some people may experience a headache, mild temperature, sickness or an itchy rash.
Serious allergic reactions are very rare.
Do you offer same-day rabies vaccination?
Same-day or short-notice first-dose appointments may sometimes be available, subject to pharmacist availability, vaccine stock and clinical suitability.
Because the course requires multiple doses, contact us as early as possible with your departure date.
Where is Hampstead Travel Clinic located?
Hampstead Travel Clinic is based inside Allchin Pharmacy at 28 Englands Lane, London, NW3 4UE.
Our clinic is convenient for travellers from Hampstead, Belsize Park, Swiss Cottage, Finchley Road, St John’s Wood, West Hampstead, Camden and surrounding North West London areas.
Book Your Rabies Vaccination
Arrange a personalised rabies risk assessment with our experienced pharmacy team in Hampstead. We will review your destination, activities and travel dates before planning the most appropriate vaccination course.
What Our Clients Say
“I have been going here for over a decade. The Chief pharmacist always goes out his way to assist me, the rest are also always friendly, polite and helpful.”
“Best local travel clinic. Really friendly and helpful staff. Very quick service.”
“Directed here by my niece. Wonderful! Friendly staff in a cozy pharmacy packed with everything you could need. ”
“Nice staff particularly regular pharmacist. Gave me my flu jab painlessly”
