Rabies Vaccination

Rabies is a fatal disease carried by mammals in most countries other than Australia. Notable exceptions include PNG and Vanuatu.

Prevention by vaccination has only recently become available at a reasonable cost and is generally only available at  selected travel clinics. This will avoid the need for blood products in the event you are bitten on your trip.
Several techniques are used, but the two most common are: 

1. Intramuscular injection.
 This is 3 injections over 3-4 weeks.
2. Intradermal injection
This can also be 3 injections over 2-4 weeks by sharing your vial with others on a specific day. We are unable to do this on the weekends. This method has been used widely overseas and has only recently been approved by Australian health authorities. (If you prefer to choose another day for your vaccine then you will need to pay more.) As a safeguard we have been testing people over the past 2 years and about 99 out of 100 have adequate levels of protection against rabies after this method. A blood test can be performed 3 weeks after the last dose, to check on your level of immunity if you desire.

Schedule: Doses are given on day 0, 7 and 21 or 0, 7 and 28 if you are having Hepatitis B or Twinrix injections as well.  The first dose is called day 0, the second day 7 etc etc. More rapid methods are also possible, such as 0, 7, 14. Minor variations to these schedules are possible.

Leaving in less than 2 weeks?

A same day vaccination course is also available however, the efficacy is less than via the above methods, and this is not approved in Australia at this time. Holland guidelines and other literature suggest it is a valid method. The Hurricane Katrina rescue teams  were all vaccinated in this manner.

Treatment to prevent rabies, after a bite:

First aid care of the wound by thorough cleansing with disinfectant (or soap/detergent and water) is essential. Medical advice and treatment must be sought immediantly within 24 hours. Other treatment may include tetanus injection (if greater than 10 years since last one), wound care and antibiotics.

Patients who HAVE NOT been vaccinated with rabies vaccine before travelling will require the Rabies Immunoglobulin, (a blood/plasma product - usually only available in major cities) plus 5 doses of the rabies vaccine are required over the 28 days on 0, 3, 7, 14, 28.

Patients who HAVE been vaccinated before travelling with full course of 3 or 4 rabies vaccines will not require the Rabies Immunoglobulin (blood/plasma product), and only require 2 rabies vaccines on day 0 and 3. Medical advice must be sought as soon as possible.