(Rabipur/Verorab)
Choose a weekday. No GP referral or waiting list.
Pharmacist reviews your travel and health.
All doses at the same clinic. Record emailed.
Immune protection starts early. Get help after any exposure.
Recommended vaccines : Rabies, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Japanese Encephalitis, Chikungunya
Early symptoms include fever, headache and malaise which can be mistaken for the flu. An early feature is a tingling or pain in the area of the original wound. Within days of neurological onset, the disease causes anxiety, disorientation and hallucinations, and then progresses to coma and death.
Rabipur is made from purified chick embryo cells and can be given at any age. It is the only vaccine we offer that is approved for the accelerated 0, 3, and 7 day schedule. Do not use Rabipur if you are allergic to egg, polygeline, chlortetracycline, or amphotericin B.
Verorab is an egg-free vaccine based on Vero cells, an alternative for patients who cannot have Rabipur. It is not routinely marketed in Great Britain, so availability is confirmed at your appointment. Tell us about any allergy to polymyxin B, streptomycin, or latex.
Injection site pain, redness, and swelling are the most common reactions, settling within a day or two. Mild headache, fatigue, and nausea are reported by some patients. Serious reactions are rare.
Children in endemic regions
Children are more likely to approach stray animals without recognising the danger and less likely to report a bite or scratch to an adult promptly
Backpackers and overlanders in rural areas
Extended time in rural environments with regular proximity to stray animals and limited access to medical facilities increases both exposure and treatment delay risk
Cyclists and motorcyclists
Travel through rural areas at ground level with direct exposure to stray dogs and wildlife that may chase or bite
Wildlife and conservation workers
Direct handling of or close proximity to bats, primates, and other wild animals that represent significant rabies reservoir populations
Cavers and spelunkers
Bat colonies are a well-documented source of rabies transmission, including through minor scratches or mucosal contact
Long-stay travellers and expats
Extended time in endemic countries dramatically increases the cumulative probability of an animal encounter
Travellers in regions with poor medical infrastructure
Accessing rabies immunoglobulin for post-exposure treatment may be impossible within the critical treatment window in remote areas
Mandeep Sandhu is superintendent pharmacist and independent prescriber at Maidstone Travel Clinic with specialist travel health training from NaTHNaC. Mandeep Sandhu is a fully accredited Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre vaccinator, qualified to advise, vaccinate and supply travel medications in one appointment.
Each consultation is personally led, not delegated, not rushed. Patients depart with a plan tailored to their individual trip, not a generic printout.
No. It primes your immune response and removes the need for immunoglobulin, often unavailable remotely. Always wash the wound and seek medical attention immediately.
A standard 28-day course needs five weeks. The 21-day schedule needs four weeks. Rabipur accelerated schedule available for imminent departures, the pharmacist confirms at consultation.
The rabies vaccine is £85 per dose, and the full three-dose pre-exposure course costs £255 in total. Your consultation is included in the appointment cost. All three doses can be administered at our clinic.
Yes. There is no minimum age restriction for the pre-exposure rabies vaccine. Children are actually considered a priority group for vaccination in endemic regions, as they are more likely to approach stray animals and less likely to report a bite promptly.
Boosters recommended every two to five years for ongoing exposure risk. Accelerated course booster timing is not fully established; the pharmacist advises on serology testing.
No. The pre-exposure rabies vaccine is not routinely available on the NHS for travel purposes. It is available as a private travel vaccine at specialist clinics such as ours in Maidstone, where it is held in stock and can be started at your first appointment.
