Rabies vaccination at OpenMed Warsaw and Płock
Rabies vaccination before travel is recommended to people who may come into contact with animals in regions where the disease occurs, especially where quick access to medical care on site will be difficult. Rabies is a viral infection transmitted mainly through the saliva of infected mammals. Exposure can occur after a bite, a scratch or contact of an animal's saliva with broken skin or a mucous membrane.
At OpenMed in Warsaw and at OpenMed in Płock you can discuss your planned trip, have a medical assessment for rabies vaccination and plan the doses before you leave.
When should you be vaccinated against rabies before travel?
The risk of infection varies depending on the country and the nature of the trip. What matters is the length of stay, the planned activities, the likelihood of contact with animals and the availability of appropriate medical care.
Pre-exposure vaccination is particularly worth considering for:
- people travelling to regions where rabies occurs in animals,
- travellers planning a longer stay or time in areas far from larger medical centres,
- people planning trekking, cycling expeditions, fieldwork or frequent contact with animals,
- children travelling to at-risk regions, as they may not report a minor bite or scratch.
Not every trip to a country where rabies occurs means the same level of risk. During the consultation the doctor considers the whole route and the way you will be travelling, not just the destination country.
What does vaccination before travel involve?
Pre-exposure prophylaxis prepares the immune system for possible later contact with the virus. In people with a normal immune system, the primary schedule may consist of two doses of the vaccine given on day 0 and day 7. In certain situations, further steps depend on how long the risk is expected to persist and on individual indications.
It is best to come for a consultation well in advance of your trip. Bring information about your route, your departure date and your previous vaccinations. During the same consultation the need for other vaccinations related to your destination can also be assessed.
Prior vaccination does not remove the need for post-exposure treatment
This is important information for anyone vaccinated before travel. Even after a full course of pre-exposure vaccination, contact with a potentially infected animal requires appropriate treatment and urgent medical assessment.
Prior vaccination does, however, simplify post-exposure prophylaxis. A person correctly vaccinated before contact with the animal receives booster doses after exposure according to the appropriate schedule and does not need rabies immunoglobulin.
What to do after an animal bite or scratch?
The wound should be washed thoroughly straight away with water and an antiseptic, and you should then seek medical help as soon as possible. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, and do not judge the risk yourself based only on how the animal looked.
Further treatment depends, among other things, on the type of contact, the animal species, where the incident happened, whether the animal can be observed or tested, and the patient's vaccination history. In a previously unvaccinated person, post-exposure prophylaxis may require a series of vaccinations and, in certain cases, rabies immunoglobulin as well.
How to prepare for vaccination?
A medical assessment takes place before the vaccine is given. The doctor asks about your current health, medicines you take, chronic conditions, immune disorders and previous reactions to vaccinations.
You do not need to fast before the visit. If you have received a rabies vaccine before, bring your record with the name of the vaccine and the dates the doses were given.
Modern rabies vaccines are inactivated and cannot cause the disease. After the injection there may be pain, redness or swelling at the injection site. Temporary general symptoms, such as a headache or feeling unwell, are also possible.
Rabies vaccination - FAQ
In people with a normal immune system, the primary pre-exposure prophylaxis schedule may consist of two doses given on day 0 and day 7. The doctor sets the schedule taking into account the patient's situation and the nature of the expected exposure.
Yes. Prior vaccination does not remove the need to report a potential exposure. It does, however, change the further course of treatment and, in a person who was correctly vaccinated beforehand, removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin.
The primary schedule consists of doses on day 0 and day 7, so vaccination should not be left until the last minute. An earlier consultation also leaves time to plan the rest of your travel-related prevention.
For most trips it is not required as a condition of entry. It may, however, be recommended because of the actual risk of infection, the planned activities and the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis at your destination.
A person who was previously correctly vaccinated against rabies does not, as a rule, receive immunoglobulin after exposure. They still need prompt medical assessment and the appropriate doses of vaccine after contact with a potentially infected animal.