Rabies Vaccination

Should I get vaccinated?

Rabies is a very serious viral infection so getting a rabies immunisation might be a good idea if your travel plans put you at risk. You can get rabies if you are bitten by an infected animal, or if the animal’s saliva gets into your body, for example through a scratch in your skin.

Animals in Australia do not carry rabies, but many animals in Africa, Asia and the Americas do carry the disease.

Once a person or other animal starts showing symptoms of rabies the disease is almost always fatal, so it’s very important to protect yourself.

Book a rabies vaccination

How do I get vaccinated?

Come and chat with us, we can help assess your risk and discuss the best prevention strategy for you.

The rabies vaccine is given as either a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) – this is a series of jabs before you go overseas – or a post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – if you were bitten and might have been exposed to the virus.

PrEP is a good idea if you will be at a high risk of exposure, for example, if you are going to volunteer in a wildlife or animal program or spend a lot of time in areas with animals. Most people get three doses and it’s best to start at least one month before you go away.

PEP is urgently needed if you come into contact with an animal that might be infected.

We can also help you with other travel vaccinations, travel health advice and first aid kits.

Rabies symptoms & facts

Both wild and domestic animals can spread rabies. The vast majority of human infections come from dogs. However, rabies can be spread by:

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