Travel Health – Rabies Vaccine

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, registration number 9012617.

If you are searching for a rabies vaccine in Sunderland, or a rabies vaccine near you, this guide covers everything you need to know before booking: what the vaccine protects against, who actually needs it, how many doses are involved, how much it costs, and what happens at your appointment at Veritas Pharmacy. Appointments last around 15 minutes per dose, and prices start from £75, depending on the vaccine brand used.

What is rabies, and why does it matter for travellers?

Rabies is a viral infection that affects the brain and nervous system. It is spread through the saliva of an infected animal, most often following a bite, scratch, or lick to broken skin. Dogs are responsible for the large majority of human rabies cases worldwide, though other animals, including cats, monkeys, and bats, can also carry and transmit the virus.

Rabies is present on every continent except Antarctica, with the highest numbers of human cases reported across parts of Asia and Africa. Once symptoms of rabies develop, the disease is almost always fatal, which is why prevention, through vaccination and prompt treatment after a possible exposure, is so important.

Who should consider the rabies vaccine?

This is known as pre-exposure vaccination, meaning it is given in advance, before any possible contact with the virus, rather than after a bite or scratch has already happened. It is generally considered for:

• Travellers heading to remote areas, particularly in parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, where reliable medical treatment following a bite may not be readily accessible.
• Travellers taking part in adventure activities, such as trekking, cycling, or running, where contact with animals is more likely.
• Anyone with an increased risk of animal contact through their trip, occupation, or activities, such as volunteering with animals.
• People in the United Kingdom who regularly handle bats, such as bat conservation volunteers.

Your pharmacist will discuss your specific travel plans, destination, and activities with you, to confirm whether pre-exposure vaccination is recommended in your case.

How many doses are needed, and how long does the course take?

Two schedules are available, depending on how much time you have before travelling.

The standard schedule consists of three doses, given into the upper arm, on day 0, day 7, and day 28, following national immunisation guidance. Where there is limited time before travel, the third dose can sometimes be brought forward to as early as day 21. Because this schedule takes about a month, we recommend starting at least 4 weeks before you travel.

A rapid schedule is also available for anyone short on time. This consists of three doses on day 0, day 3, and day 7, completing your primary protection within a single week. If you expect to continue travelling to higher-risk destinations in future, a fourth dose is then recommended at 12 months, to extend your protection further.

Each appointment, for each individual dose, takes around 15 minutes, including a brief check that you remain well and suitable to continue the course.

Does pre-exposure vaccination mean you never need treatment after a bite?

No. This is one of the most important points to understand about the rabies vaccine. Completing the pre-exposure course does not remove the need for medical treatment if you are later bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal that could carry rabies. What it does do is simplify that treatment considerably.

Someone who has already completed the pre-exposure course typically only needs two further vaccine doses after a possible exposure, and does not usually need rabies immunoglobulin. Someone who has not been vaccinated beforehand usually needs a longer course of vaccine doses, alongside immunoglobulin, which can be difficult or impossible to access quickly in some parts of the world. This is why pre-exposure vaccination is particularly valuable for travel to remote areas.

What to expect at your appointment

Your first appointment includes a travel health consultation alongside your initial dose, during which your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, confirms that the vaccine is appropriate for you, and discusses your wider travel health needs. The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm. Your second and third doses follow the same straightforward process, with a brief check to confirm you remain well beforehand.

The specific vaccine preparation used is confirmed at your clinical assessment and is subject to stock, since more than one licensed brand is available. We recommend contacting us before booking if you would like to check current availability.

How much does the rabies vaccine cost in Sunderland?

Pricing is £75 or £110 per dose, depending on which vaccine brand is used. The standard schedule involves three doses, bringing the total course cost to between £225 and £330. If you choose the rapid schedule and later add the recommended dose at 12 months, this brings the total to four doses, costing between £300 and £440. Your pharmacist will confirm the exact price at your clinical assessment, based on the preparation available.

How to book your rabies vaccine in Sunderland

Booking takes a couple of minutes online, or you can call the clinic directly to check availability first. We see patients from Sunderland and the surrounding area, and same-week appointments are often available.

Frequently asked questions about the rabies vaccine

Related reading: More Travel Health articles · Travel vaccinations by destination