Rabies vaccine in West Hampstead London Travel Clinic

Rabies vaccine in West Hampstead - at a glance

Rabies is a viral brain infection that is essentially 100% fatal once symptoms appear. It is spread by bites, scratches or saliva from infected mammals, most often dogs in Asia, bats and monkeys in Latin America, and stray dogs across rural Africa. The pre-exposure vaccine course (now just two doses on days 0 and 7, per WHO 2018) buys you the time to find post-exposure boosters safely if anything happens.

Who needs the Rabies vaccine?

NaTHNaC recommends pre-exposure rabies vaccination for anyone travelling to a rabies-risk country (most of Asia, Africa, and parts of Latin America) who will be more than 24 hours from reliable medical care, will be cycling, running or hiking, working with animals, or staying for an extended period. It is particularly important for children, backpackers, expedition travellers and long-stay volunteers.

How the appointment works at Aqua

You book online and come in for the first dose. The second dose is given seven days later. Both appointments take around 15 minutes. We use the licensed intramuscular vaccines (Rabipur® or Verorab®). If your trip is sooner than two weeks away, talk to the pharmacist. Even one dose offers some protection and the course can be completed on the road if needed.

What if you are bitten while abroad?

Even if you are pre-vaccinated, you must wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, then seek medical care for two booster doses (days 0 and 3). You do not need rabies immunoglobulin if you have been pre-vaccinated. This is the key advantage. If you have not been pre-vaccinated, you will need both vaccine and immunoglobulin, which is often unavailable in destination countries.

Side effects and contraindications

Most people experience only mild side effects: sore arm and occasionally a mild headache. Modern rabies vaccines are inactivated, safe in pregnancy, and have an excellent safety record. There are essentially no absolute contraindications to pre-exposure rabies vaccination given the seriousness of the disease.

Book your appointment

Aqua Travel Clinic is at 59 Mill Lane, West Hampstead NW6 1NB, one minute from West Hampstead station. The clinic is operated by Aqua Pharmacy (GPhC premises 1123406), part of Naspram Pharma Limited. All consultations are supervised by Superintendent Pharmacist Sanjay Mukundkumar Patel (GPhC 2045157). Book a Rabies appointment online or call us. We will get both doses in your diary in the same call.