No minimum age. For travellers to remote areas and anyone likely to have contact with animals abroad. Not live, so can be given in pregnancy. Private only for travel.
Last reviewed 12 September 2026UK Green Book ch. 27Non-live vaccine
Who can have it
Eligibility by age, on the NHS and privately
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but is entirely preventable. Pre-travel vaccination is a course of three doses that simplifies treatment after a bite and buys time when medical care is far away. It is especially important for children, who are more likely to be bitten and less likely to report it.
Check what applies to you
Pick your age range and gender to see only the criteria for your group. Nothing you select is saved or sent anywhere.
Age
Privately (pharmacy or clinic)
On the NHS
Under 2 years
Privately✓Available
Can be given at any age on clinician advice; same dose as adults
On the NHSNot offered
Not available on the NHS for travel.
2 to 17 years
Privately✓Available
Three doses on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28 (or a 7-day course when time is short)
On the NHSNot offered
Not available on the NHS for travel.
18 to 49 years
Privately✓Available
Three doses on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28 (or a 7-day course when time is short)
On the NHSFree for some
Free only for occupational risk (bat handlers, vets, some laboratory staff) via the employer. Post-exposure treatment after a bite is always free on the NHS.
50 to 64 years
Privately✓Available
Three doses on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28 (or a 7-day course when time is short)
On the NHSFree for some
As above.
65 and over
Privately✓Available
Three doses on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28 (or a 7-day course when time is short)
On the NHSFree for some
As above.
Recommended for
Travellers to rural or remote areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America where treatment may be more than 24 hours away
Long-stay travellers, backpackers, cyclists, runners and anyone likely to encounter dogs, monkeys or bats
Children travelling to rabies-risk countries
Vets, animal handlers and bat workers
Who should not have it
A previous serious allergic reaction to a rabies vaccine or one of its ingredients
If you have a fever, pre-travel vaccination is usually postponed. Post-exposure treatment is never delayed
Always tell the clinician about allergies, medicines, health conditions and recent vaccines. They will confirm the vaccine is right for you before giving it.
About the vaccine
What it protects against, how long it lasts and side effects
🛡️
Protects against
Fatal viral brain infection transmitted through bites or scratches from infected animals, including dogs, bats, and monkeys.
📅
When to have it
2–3 doses before travel — schedule depends on time available and clinician assessment
⏳
How long it lasts
Several years (immediate medical care still required if bitten)
💉
Doses
2–3 doses — schedule depends on time before travel (days 0 & 7, or days 0, 7 & 21–28)
🩹
Side effects
Sore arm, mild headache, nausea, or dizziness. Usually mild and short-lived.
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Good to know
Pre-exposure vaccination reduces the urgency and course of post-bite treatment — it does not replace it.
Common questions
Rabies vaccine: your questions answered
Do I still need treatment if I am bitten after being vaccinated?
Yes, but it is simpler. You need two further vaccine doses and no rabies immunoglobulin, which is expensive and often unavailable abroad. Without pre-travel vaccination you would need four or five doses plus immunoglobulin, started urgently.
How long does the rabies vaccine last?
After the three-dose course, protection is long-lasting and routine boosters are not recommended for most travellers. A single booster can be considered, after a risk assessment, if you completed the course more than a year ago and are travelling again to a high-risk area.
Can the course be done in a week?
Yes. When there is not enough time for the standard course (days 0, 7 and 21 to 28), an accelerated course on days 0, 3 and 7 can be used, with a further dose at one year if you will keep travelling to high-risk areas.
Can children have the rabies vaccine?
Yes, at any age. Children are at higher risk because they are more likely to approach animals and may not tell anyone about a scratch or lick.
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GPhC-registered pharmacies and travel clinics. The clinician confirms suitability at your appointment.
General information only. This page sets out the published UK eligibility criteria so you can see which apply to you. It is not medical advice and VaxiGo does not assess your suitability for any vaccine. The clinician at your appointment makes that decision with you.