Rabies vaccine schedule by country
Countries follow different post-exposure schedules. All of them count from Day 0, the day of the first vaccine dose. Tap “Use this schedule” to load a country into the calculator.
| Country / guideline | Regimens (days from Day 0) | Immunocompromised |
|---|---|---|
| 🇮🇳 IndiaNCDC / NRCP National Guidelines, 2019 | ID Thai Red Cross: Days 0, 3, 7, 28 IM Essen (5-dose): Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 IM Zagreb: Days 0, 7, 21 | Same course, plus optional Day 90 dose (IM Essen (5-dose)) |
| 🇵🇭 PhilippinesDOH Administrative Order 2018-0013 | ID one-week: Days 0, 3, 7 ID one-week + Day 28: Days 0, 3, 7, 28 IM Essen (4-dose): Days 0, 3, 7, 14–28 | No longer course listed — specialist advice |
| 🌍 Other countries (WHO 2018)WHO position paper, April 2018 | ID one-week: Days 0, 3, 7 IM Essen (4-dose): Days 0, 3, 7, 14–28 IM Zagreb: Days 0, 7, 21 ID Thai Red Cross: Days 0, 3, 7, 28 | No longer course listed — specialist advice |
| 🇺🇸 United StatesCDC / ACIP | IM 4-dose: Days 0, 3, 7, 14 | 5 doses: Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 |
| 🇬🇧 United KingdomUKHSA | IM 4-dose: Days 0, 3, 7, 21 | 5 doses: Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 30 |
| 🇦🇺 AustraliaAustralian Immunisation Handbook (ATAGI) | IM 4-dose: Days 0, 3, 7, 14 | 5 doses: Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 |
| 🇨🇦 CanadaProvincial guidance (e.g. BCCDC) | IM 4-dose: Days 0, 3, 7, 14 | 5 doses: Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 |
People who already completed a full pre- or post-exposure course with a cell-culture vaccine need only two booster doses, on Days 0 and 3, and no RIG.
Rabies vaccine schedule in India
India follows the National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis (NCDC, 2019) issued under the National Rabies Control Programme. Three schedules are approved, and guidelines treat them as equally protective when given correctly:
| Regimen | Days | Route and dose |
|---|---|---|
| IM Essen (5-dose) | 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 | 1 deltoid injection per visit (0.5 or 1 mL by product) |
| ID Updated Thai Red Cross | 0, 3, 7, 28 | 0.1 mL at 2 sites per visit |
| IM Zagreb (2-1-1) | 0 (two sites), 7, 21 | 1 mL-equivalent dose per site |
The schedule applies to dog, cat and monkey bites and to any Category II or III exposure. NCDC lists an optional Day-90 dose for immunodeficient patients, people at the extremes of age and those on steroids. Anti-rabies vaccine is free at government hospitals, PHCs and CHCs; private clinics usually charge about ₹250–₹600 per dose.
Intradermal (IDRV) schedules
Intradermal vaccination gives a fraction of the IM dose into the skin, so it saves vaccine and cost. It needs trained staff and a product approved for ID use. Two ID schedules are in common use:
| Feature | IM Essen | ID Thai Red Cross | ID one-week (WHO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 0, 3, 7, 14, 28 (WHO: 0, 3, 7, 14–28) | 0, 3, 7, 28 | 0, 3, 7 |
| Visits | 5 (WHO: 4) | 4 | 3 |
| Sites per visit | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Dose per site | 0.5 or 1 mL (by product) | 0.1 mL | 0.1 mL |
India uses the Thai Red Cross schedule. WHO’s 2018 paper introduced the one-week schedule and no longer requires the Day-28 dose. ID is generally avoided in significantly immunocompromised patients and in those taking chloroquine.
What to do after a dog bite
- Wash the wound at once. Use soap and running water for 15 minutes, then apply povidone-iodine or an alcohol-based antiseptic. Skip chilli, turmeric, oil or lime: they do not help.
- Go to a clinic the same day. You get your first vaccine dose (Day 0), plus RIG if the bite is Category III.
- Note the date of Day 0 and enter it in the calculator to get all remaining dates.
- Complete every dose on its date. If you are late, take the dose as soon as possible and carry on; do not restart.
- Observe the animal if you can. If a biting dog or cat stays healthy for 10 days, your doctor may modify or stop the course. Never stop on your own.
Monkey, cat, bat and other animal bites
A monkey bite carries the same rabies risk as a dog bite and follows the same schedule. Cats are treated like dogs. In India, bites from all wild animals are handled as Category III, and WHO advises treating any bat exposure as Category III.
Exposure categories
| Category | Contact | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding an animal, licks on intact skin | No PEP needed |
| II | Nibbling of uncovered skin, minor scratches or abrasions without bleeding | Wound washing and vaccine |
| III | Bites or scratches that break the skin, licks on broken skin, saliva on mucous membranes, any bat exposure | Wound washing, vaccine and RIG |
Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG)
RIG gives immediate antibodies while the vaccine takes effect. It is needed for Category III exposures (and, per WHO, for Category II in severe immunodeficiency). Give it once, with the first vaccine dose on Day 0. If it was not available on Day 0, it can still be given up to Day 7; after that the vaccine is already working and RIG is not recommended.
Dose: equine RIG (ERIG) 40 IU/kg; human RIG (HRIG) 20 IU/kg. Infiltrate as much as anatomically possible into and around the wound(s), and never inject it at the same site as the vaccine. India and the US give any remainder IM at a distant site; WHO 2018 advises wound infiltration alone.
Calculate the ERIG / HRIG dose by weightRabies vaccine brands
Modern cell-culture and egg-based vaccines are considered interchangeable for post-exposure treatment. Nerve-tissue vaccines (Semple) are no longer recommended.
| Brand | Manufacturer | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Rabipur | Bavarian Nordic | PCECV (purified chick embryo cell) |
| Verorab | Sanofi | PVRV (purified Vero cell) |
| Indirab | Bharat Biotech | PVRV, made in India |
| Abhayrab | Human Biologicals Institute | PVRV, made in India |
| RabAvert | Bavarian Nordic | PCECV, used in the US |
| Imovax Rabies | Sanofi | HDCV (human diploid cell), used in the US |
Frequently asked questions
How many injections are needed after a dog bite?
It depends on the guideline and route. India (NCDC): 5 IM doses on Days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28, or 4 intradermal visits on Days 0, 3, 7 and 28. WHO: 3 intradermal visits (Days 0, 3, 7) or 4 IM doses (Days 0, 3, 7 and one dose between Day 14 and 28). US, Canada and Australia: 4 IM doses on Days 0, 3, 7 and 14. UK: 4 IM doses on Days 0, 3, 7 and 21. Immunocompromised patients usually need a fifth dose.
How do I calculate my rabies vaccine dates from today?
Choose your country, pick a regimen, then tap “Use today’s date”. Day 0 is the day of your first vaccine dose — not necessarily the day of the bite — and every other dose is counted from Day 0.
What are IDRV dates and how are they calculated?
IDRV (intradermal rabies vaccine) uses small 0.1 mL doses in the skin, usually at two sites per visit. The Updated Thai Red Cross schedule used in India is on Days 0, 3, 7 and 28; the WHO one-week schedule is on Days 0, 3 and 7. Choose an intradermal regimen in the calculator to get your dates.
Do I need the rabies vaccine after a monkey bite?
Yes. Monkeys can carry rabies, and a bite that breaks the skin is handled like a dog bite: wash the wound, start the vaccine the same day, and add rabies immunoglobulin for Category III wounds. In India, bites from all wild animals are treated as Category III.
Is the rabies vaccine free in government hospitals in India?
Yes. Anti-rabies vaccine is provided free at government hospitals, PHCs and CHCs under the National Rabies Control Programme, although supply varies by state. Private clinics usually charge about ₹250–₹600 per dose.
What if I miss a rabies vaccine dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as possible and continue the remaining doses. Do not restart the series. Contact your doctor if you are significantly late for any dose, especially the last one.
Can I get rabies from a vaccinated dog?
The risk from a fully vaccinated dog is very low, but every bite should be washed and assessed by a doctor. Whether you need post-exposure treatment depends on the animal’s vaccination status, its behaviour, whether it can be observed for 10 days, and local rabies risk.
What is the difference between Essen, Zagreb and intradermal schedules?
Essen is an IM course with one injection per visit — 5 doses in India (Days 0, 3, 7, 14, 28) and 4 doses in the WHO, US, Australian and Canadian versions. Zagreb is an IM course with two injections on Day 0, then one on Days 7 and 21, so only three visits. Intradermal schedules use 0.1 mL at two sites per visit: Days 0, 3, 7 and 28 (Updated Thai Red Cross) or Days 0, 3, 7 (WHO one-week).
What is the rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) dose?
Equine RIG (ERIG) is 40 IU/kg and human RIG (HRIG) is 20 IU/kg. For a 60 kg person that is 2,400 IU of ERIG or 1,200 IU of HRIG. As much as anatomically possible is infiltrated into and around the wound; it is given once, ideally on Day 0.
I was bitten while travelling. Which schedule should I follow?
Follow the regimen the treating clinic starts. WHO states that switching between IM and ID routes or between vaccine brands during a course is safe. Keep your vaccination record, tell the next clinic which doses you have had, and count the remaining doses from Day 0.
I have had a rabies vaccine before. Do I need the full course again?
If you completed a full pre- or post-exposure course with a cell-culture vaccine, you usually need only two booster doses (Days 0 and 3) and no RIG. Choose “Previously vaccinated” in the calculator, and confirm with the treating doctor.
Sources
- WHO position paper on rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins (2018)
- NCDC, National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis (India, 2019)
- CDC, Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis guidance (US)
- UKHSA, Guidelines on managing rabies post-exposure (2023)
- Australian Immunisation Handbook, Rabies and other lyssaviruses
- BCCDC, Rabies post-exposure vaccine (Canada)
- Philippines Department of Health, Administrative Order 2018-0013 (Animal Bite Treatment Centers)
Medical disclaimer: This calculator is for education and clinical decision support only. It does not replace clinical judgment or specialist consultation. Guidelines change and local protocols differ, so always follow the advice of a qualified healthcare professional for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. RxMedCalc is not liable for decisions made solely on this tool.