- Before exposure onlyPharmacists give the course ahead of time, never as care for a wound
- From 5 years of ageFor people who are not immunocompromised, under NSW pharmacist rules
- Two or three visitsCourses finish at day 7 or between days 21 and 28
Rabies overseas, bat lyssavirus at home
Rabies is almost always fatal, and once symptoms start there is no treatment. Overseas, dogs are the main source, with monkeys, cats and bats also involved. NSW Health notes the risk is highest in developing countries across Asia (including Bali and Timor-Leste), Africa, and Central and South America.
Australian land animals do not carry rabies, but Australian bat lyssavirus causes the same illness. NSW Health warns that any bat in Australia could carry it, and its behaviour or appearance is no guide. If you find an injured bat, leave it alone and contact a wildlife rescue group.
Who should have the rabies vaccine
- bat handlers, vets and vet nurses, wildlife carers and officers, and anyone else in direct contact with bats, here or abroad
- travellers to rabies-affected areas, after weighing how likely they are to meet animals and how quickly they could reach medical care
- research laboratory workers handling live lyssaviruses
Children deserve extra thought. Their height leaves them open to bites on the face and neck, and the Handbook sets a lower threshold for vaccinating children who travel to endemic areas. See our travel vaccinations page for the other vaccines to plan.
How the pre-exposure course works
Under the NSW pharmacist vaccination standard, we give rabies vaccine into the muscle as pre-exposure prophylaxis only. Treatment after a bite, called post-exposure prophylaxis, comes through doctors and public health units instead.
The Handbook sets out a two-visit schedule, on day 0 and day 7, and a three-visit schedule, on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28. The two-visit course gives shorter-term cover, with a booster advised a year after the first dose if protection is still needed. NSW Health suggests asking about vaccination at least a month before departure so there is time to finish.
If a bat or animal bites or scratches you
NSW Health's first aid steps apply even if you are fully vaccinated:
- Straight away, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least fifteen minutes.
- Apply an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, or alcohol containing at least 70% ethanol.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor, working with the local public health unit, decides whether you need more vaccine or rabies immunoglobulin.
A completed pre-exposure course never replaces medical assessment after a possible exposure. NSW rules require us to explain this, and the first aid above, to everyone we vaccinate.
Rabies questions
Do malaria tablets affect the rabies vaccine?
Some can. The Handbook flags possible interference from certain antimalarials when rabies doses are scheduled, so tell the pharmacist about any malaria medicine you have been prescribed.
What should I do if I am bitten overseas?
Get treated in that country as soon as you can, and ask for a certificate recording the vaccine, batch numbers and any immunoglobulin given. Once home, see a doctor so the course can be reassessed and completed.
What if I am not sure a bat touched me?
It is not always clear, for example when a bat is found in a child's room or someone has slept in a confined space with one. Speak to a doctor or call the public health unit on 1300 066 055, and they will assess whether treatment is needed.
Looking for protection against something else? See the full vaccinations list.
Plan your rabies course early
Call Abermain Chemist or walk in on a weekday to start pre-exposure doses, leaving enough weeks for every visit before you travel.