Vaccine guidance · BTS Punnawithi, Bangkok
Rabies Vaccination in Bangkok
Plan protection before animal exposure—and know exactly why prompt care matters after a bite or scratch.
What is rabies, and how does vaccination help?
Rabies is a viral infection of the nervous system, usually passed through saliva from an infected animal. Vaccination prepares the immune system to recognise the virus. It can be given before exposure, and is a central part of urgent prevention after a possible exposure. Once clinical rabies develops, it is almost always fatal; prompt, appropriate post-exposure care can prevent the disease.
- Before exposure
- Preventive vaccination
- After a bite or scratch
- Seek care today
- First action
- Wash for at least 15 minutes
How do people catch rabies?
A bite that breaks the skin is a familiar route, but scratches and saliva reaching broken skin, the eyes or the mouth can also be relevant. Dogs cause most human cases worldwide. Cats, monkeys, bats and other mammals can also carry the virus. You cannot judge the risk only by whether an animal looks aggressive or ill.
Touching or feeding an animal, or a lick on completely intact skin, is not normally a rabies exposure. When the skin may be broken or the contact is uncertain, let a healthcare professional assess it. Avoid handling unfamiliar animals, including friendly-looking puppies and kittens.
What are the symptoms—and why should you not wait for them?
Early symptoms can include fever, headache and unusual pain, tingling or burning around the wound. Later disease may cause confusion, agitation, difficulty swallowing, fear of water or paralysis. The incubation period is often weeks to months, but varies widely. Feeling well after a bite does not show that you are safe.
Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) works before the virus causes clinical illness. There is no routine test that can reliably rule out rabies in an otherwise well person immediately after a bite. The decision is based on the exposure and vaccination history—not on waiting for a symptom or a blood-test result.
What should you do after a bite, scratch or saliva exposure?
Wash and flush the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical care the same day, even if you have been vaccinated before. Do not wait for Kauri to open, an online booking confirmation or symptoms. If it has already been several days, seek care now rather than assuming it is too late.
A clinician assesses the wound, the animal, previous vaccinations and immune health. Care may include rabies vaccine, rabies immunoglobulin or an approved antibody product, wound care and tetanus protection. People who need immunoglobulin must reach a facility that can provide it promptly. Do not delay treatment while trying to catch or observe the animal yourself.
Who benefits from vaccination before exposure?
Pre-exposure vaccination is worth discussing for veterinarians, animal-care workers, people with repeated animal contact and travellers whose activities or destinations make prompt treatment difficult. Longer stays, rural trips and children likely to approach animals can influence that discussion. The aim is to prepare protection before an unexpected encounter.
An important benefit is simpler care after a later exposure. Previously vaccinated people usually need fewer vaccine doses and do not need rabies immunoglobulin when their prior course meets the relevant guidance. Vaccination does not remove the need to clean a wound and seek urgent assessment after a bite.
How many rabies vaccine doses are needed?
For preventive vaccination, a recognised intramuscular schedule uses 2 doses on days 0 and 7. People with continuing risk may need an antibody check or booster later. Day 0 means the day of the first dose, not necessarily the day an exposure happened.
After exposure, the schedule depends on whether you were previously vaccinated, your immune status and whether an intramuscular or intradermal protocol is used. Previously unvaccinated people need a complete post-exposure course; those with a documented, qualifying prior course commonly receive boosters on days 0 and 3. Your treating clinician gives the exact dates. Do not substitute a preventive schedule for post-exposure treatment.
What should you expect during the vaccine course?
Bring previous rabies-vaccine records, including dates and the route used if known. Keep the new record and follow the planned appointments. If a dose is late, contact the treating clinic promptly so the schedule can be adjusted; do not restart or stop the course yourself.
Soreness, redness, headache or nausea can occur after vaccination and are usually manageable. Tell the team about immune-suppressing treatment and previous vaccine reactions. Pregnancy or breastfeeding is not a reason to withhold indicated rabies post-exposure prevention. Trouble breathing or swelling of the face or throat after any vaccine needs emergency care.
More vaccine questions, answered
Do I still need treatment if I was vaccinated before?
Yes. Wash the wound and seek urgent assessment. Previous vaccination changes the doses and usually removes the need for rabies immunoglobulin; it does not make a bite safe to ignore.
Can a small scratch need rabies prevention?
Yes, depending on the skin damage and animal exposure. A small wound or little bleeding does not reliably exclude risk. Have the contact assessed rather than judging only by wound size.
Should I wait to see whether the animal becomes ill?
No. Get medical advice today. A clinician and the appropriate animal-health authority can decide whether supervised observation or testing changes your care. Do not postpone starting indicated treatment yourself.
Kauri Health Clinic
Plan your vaccination visit at Kauri
Bring your vaccination record, if available, and tell us about previous reactions, medicines, pregnancy or immune-system conditions. We review your history, confirm the appropriate vaccine and schedule, and explain what to expect before vaccination. Keep your updated record for future doses and travel.
3063 Sukhumvit Rd, Bang Chak, Phra Khanong, Bangkok 10260 · BTS Punnawithi
Tuesday–Saturday, 9:00–18:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
Wash with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care today. Do not wait for symptoms, a routine appointment or the clinic to open. A clinician decides whether vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin are needed.
Get directions to KauriMedical sources behind this guide
Sources checked: 17 October 2026
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