What we offer
We now offer rabies pre-exposure vaccination for travellers using the intradermal (into the skin) route, administered with the VAX-ID® device. This is an alternative to the standard intramuscular (into the muscle) injection and uses a much smaller dose of vaccine.

See a demo of the Vax-ID device in this YouTube video

This service is suitable for people travelling to countries where rabies is present in animals and who want to protect themselves before travel.

Who is this for?
This vaccination is recommended if you are:

• Travelling to Asia, Africa, Central or South America, or other rabies-endemic regions
• Going on an extended trip, backpacking, or travelling to remote areas
• Working with animals, handling wildlife, or involved in veterinary or conservation work abroad
• Planning activities such as cycling, running, or camping where contact with animals is more likely
• Travelling with young children, who may not report an animal contact

About the intradermal route
Intradermal vaccination delivers the vaccine just beneath the surface of the skin using a very small volume — 0.1 mL per injection. This method has been used for rabies vaccination for decades and is endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Please note: The intradermal route is not covered by the vaccine manufacturer’s product licence in the UK. It is an off-licence use, administered on the clinician’s own responsibility in accordance with UK guidance (UKHSA Green Book, Chapter 27, May 2023). This is a recognised and accepted practice in travel medicine.The VAX-ID® device
We use the VAX-ID® — a CE-marked medical device developed specifically for intradermal vaccine delivery. It ensures accurate, consistent placement of the vaccine into the correct skin layer, and is designed to be more comfortable than traditional intradermal techniques.
The device uses a very short, fine needle and is held flat against the skin at 90°, removing the need for the angled Mantoux technique used in older methods.

Vaccination schedule
The course consists of three injections on the following days:

Day 0: First appointment
Day 7: One week later
Day 28: Four weeks later (or Day 21 if travel is imminent)

Please allow enough time before travel. Ideally, your first appointment should be at least 4 weeks before departure. If time is short, the third dose can be given from Day 21. Please contact us to discuss your travel dates.

What does this vaccination mean if you are bitten abroad?
Completing the full course of pre-exposure vaccination means your immune system is primed against rabies. If you are bitten, scratched, or licked on broken skin by an animal during your travels:

• You will still need to seek medical advice immediately after any potential exposure
• You will require only 2 follow-up injections (on Days 0 and 3) rather than 5
• You will not need rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) — a blood-derived product that is often unavailable in remote or resource-limited settings

This significantly simplifies treatment abroad and may be life-saving in areas where full PEP resources are not readily available.