Rabies vaccine?

[Lacessit]

90% of the rabies cases in Thailand come from dogs.

 

North-east Thailand plus central and southern Thailand are the areas where rabies is endemic. Less frequent in north-western Thailand.

 

It's why I steer clear of soi dogs.

[how241]

I read recently that not only scratches and bites can give you rabies.  If the dog or animal licks your open mouth, gets saliva into your nose or eyes then it's possible to get infected.  Scary stuff if you like dogs, etc. Especially here with all the soi dogs that might not have ever gotten the shots.

[Sheryl]

Bickering posts removed.

 

note that Rabies  Immune Globulin and Rabies Vaccine are different things.  The vacvine can be givrn pre or post exposure and confers at least a few years of immunity. The immune globulin is short-acting and used (in addition to vaccine)  only after exposure in unvaccinated people. 

 

Vaccine is readily available. The immune globulin can be harder to find.  

[how241]

4 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

the immune globulin can be harder to find.  

 

Is it available in Pattaya at private hospitals ?

[how241]

Anyone know the approximate cost to get the rabies shots if you get scratched or bitten ?maybe 20K ?

[Nick Carter icp]

11 minutes ago, how241 said:

Anyone know the approximate cost to get the rabies shots if you get scratched or bitten ?maybe 20K ?

 

   Figures have ben mentioned on pervious pages 

[lamyai3]

15 minutes ago, how241 said:

Anyone know the approximate cost to get the rabies shots if you get scratched or bitten ?maybe 20K ?

 

Bitten a few years ago, immunoglobulin was <5k baht in one of the government hospitals, and the anti-rabies shots (Verorab) under 300 baht each - had around 6 shots including a tetanus booster.

 

I did check at a private hospital first and the cost there would indeed have been about 20k.

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, how241 said:

Is it available in Pattaya at private hospitals ?

Should be available at all hospitals, public and private. But no guarantee. (Immune globulin). 

[kwilco]

5 hours ago, Lacessit said:

90% of the rabies cases in Thailand come from dogs.

 

North-east Thailand plus central and southern Thailand are the areas where rabies is endemic. Less frequent in north-western Thailand.

 

It's why I steer clear of soi dogs.

You need to get the facts straight.

 

Rabies in endemic THROUGHOUT Thailand  trying to pick zones will only give you a false sense of security. 

Dogs transmit 99% of rabies in Thailand - possibly the odd cat. 

The similar disease in bats has recently ben found in Thailand but as yet no transmission to humans

 

border areas can have a higher risk as animals come over from countries with higher rates.

Bangkok has had a couple of scares in the last 10 years - culls don't help i fact they can increase the spread but because of large numbers of dogs the disease can sprad more quickly.

 

Muslim areas tend to have less stray dogs so the risk might be lower. 

[Lacessit]

6 hours ago, kwilco said:

You need to get the facts straight.

 

Rabies in endemic THROUGHOUT Thailand  trying to pick zones will only give you a false sense of security. 

Dogs transmit 99% of rabies in Thailand - possibly the odd cat. 

The similar disease in bats has recently ben found in Thailand but as yet no transmission to humans

 

border areas can have a higher risk as animals come over from countries with higher rates.

Bangkok has had a couple of scares in the last 10 years - culls don't help i fact they can increase the spread but because of large numbers of dogs the disease can sprad more quickly.

 

Muslim areas tend to have less stray dogs so the risk might be lower. 

I used the term "less frequent". That's not denying there have been cases in CM and CR.

 

It does have me wondering if I should be vaccinated, although my contact with dogs is limited to one.

[Presnock]

On 6/19/2025 at 8:57 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

Following the distressing death of a British women from rabies, months after being slightly scratched by a puppy in Morocco, has anyone had a preventative rabies shot, and if so, how often does it need to be boosted?  Have there been many cases of rabies in animals in Thailand?

 

Scary stuff.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jun/18/person-dies-of-rabies-in-yorkshire-after-contact-with-dog-in-morocco

There have been some cases over the years in Thailand, especially due to the soi dogs running around.  Last year there was a report of rabies in I think a house pet in the Prawet area of Bangkok and the government issued a warning for that area and also repeated the new law about registering pets in Bangkok - must be done by sometime next year, not sure of the date as I won't be in Bangkok so will not be registering my dog here.  by googling "rabies shots and boosters" you can get several answers on that issue.  My wife and daughter scratched by a cat, and our dog, had to have 5 shots each just to ensure no problems.  I do believe the google sites will advise one what to do for prevention as well as if scratched or bitten and worried about it.

[Hummin]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

I used the term "less frequent". That's not denying there have been cases in CM and CR.

 

It does have me wondering if I should be vaccinated, although my contact with dogs is limited to one.

As long your dog is following the rabies vaccination program no need. The chances is slim to have your dog transfer rabies to you.

 

Your Ampur hand out vaccines or you take your dog to an vet and follow their program where they call you when next shot is up for date.

 

A typical rabies vaccination schedule for dogs involves an initial vaccine between 3-4 months of age, followed by a booster shot one year later. After that, the frequency of boosters (every 1-3 years) is determined by local regulations and your veterinarian's recommendations. 

 

 

[iaminwa]

Yep, you can get it at the Global Doctor in Silom Road inside Holiday Inn - they send you to the Red Cross opposite Lumpini Park - you can actually just go there and register and get the shots yourself though.

[VocalNeal]

On 6/19/2025 at 7:54 PM, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Costs between 3000 and 15 000 Baht for the five anti rabies injections 

 

8ollocks

Sorry. at least the top end price. About 450 a jab. I got mine at a clinic on Sukhumvit soi 48. Now a condo probably. So many "clinics" will have them. 

If not, as mentioned, in BKK the Red Cross. Handy by BTS.

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, VocalNeal said:

 

8ollocks

Sorry. at least the top end price. About 450 a jab. I got mine at a clinic on Sukhumvit soi 48. Now a condo probably. So many "clinics" will have them. 

If not, as mentioned, in BKK the Red Cross. Handy by BTS.

 

   Its not just the jabs you have to pay for though is it .

I did mean the complete price , registering and doctors costs .

450 x 5 = 2250 Baht

Registering with a hospital and doctors fees , hospital fees and administration fees that would bring the cost to the stated 3000 Baht plus and also the gamma globin and tetanus costs added to that can bring the cost to 15000 Baht plus

 

[Sheryl]

4 hours ago, Lacessit said:

 

 

It does have me wondering if I should be vaccinated, although my contact with dogs is limited to one.

 

If it is your own dog, then    just vaccinate the dog.

 

Where pre-expisure vaccination makes sense is if one works with animals (Vet, animal rescue) or must live/walk through areas with stray or wild animals.

 

 

 

 

[how241]

This topic makes me worry slightly as I step over some soi dog sitting by the door at 7-11, enjoying the air cond.  Yes, they tend to be quiet dogs But any animal can snap out of fear at any time.  You can never know what bad past experiences that animal may have had. 

[Lacessit]

15 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

If it is your own dog, then    just vaccinate the dog.

 

Where pre-expisure vaccination makes sense is if one works with animals (Vet, animal rescue) or must live/walk through areas with stray or wild animals.

 

 

 

 

Not my own dog, a neighbor's.

 

I am told all the dogs in the village are vaccinated.

[Magictoad]

As far as I know there no prophylactic vaccine so if you get bitten by a dog you should go to a hospital for a post bite treatment. I was bitten by a street dog on Cozy Beach road on Christmas morning about 8 years ago but decided not to go for treatment. I'm still alive as you can see. Tetanus is the real problem with a dog bites but most of us have tetanus shots already, apart from anti-vax nutters. Tetanus is a horrible way to die.

[LosLobo]

24 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

As far as I know there no prophylactic vaccine so if you get bitten by a dog you should go to a hospital for a post bite treatment. I was bitten by a street dog on Cozy Beach road on Christmas morning about 8 years ago but decided not to go for treatment. I'm still alive as you can see. Tetanus is the real problem with a dog bites but most of us have tetanus shots already, apart from anti-vax nutters. Tetanus is a horrible way to die.

The longest documented incubation period for rabies in a human is 6.5 years — though they’re always looking for new candidates.

[kwilco]

 

 

It was you use of the term "endemic" that was incorrect.

 

I’ve had the rabies vaccine and boosters — and I’m glad I did.

I was bitten some years ago — though technically it was more of a “scratch.”
It was from a pedigree Asian Boxer, owned by a hotel… and that hotel was owned by a policeman. Turns out, the dog had already attacked several people, and locals who knew better would cross the street to avoid it.

Treatment was cheap back then — the scariest part was actually the motorcycle taxi to the hospital. He clearly thought it was a great excuse to drive like a maniac.

 

In Thailand, it’s a legal requirement to vaccinate your pets. That includes your neighbours’ animals too.

 

The Soi Dog Foundation works with smaller local rescue groups to run CNVR operations — Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return. In Phuket, this program has reduced the stray dog population from around 70,000 in 2003 to about 7,000 in 2024.Their biggest current concern? Rabies coming onto the island via unvaccinated puppies sold at markets.

SDF also runs campaigns in Bangkok, Samui, and other areas. If you’re worried about strays or rabies where you live, it’s worth checking whether CNVR work has been done locally.

 

And just FYI: Culling dogs doesn’t solve the problem — it makes it worse.
Culls disrupt the local dog population and actually increase the spread of rabies.

[VocalNeal]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Registering with a hospital and doctors fees ,

 

Why register with a doctor for Rabies jabs? But hey...

[Sheryl]

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

As far as I know there no prophylactic vaccine so if you get bitten by a dog you should go to a hospital for a post bite treatment. I was bitten by a street dog on Cozy Beach road on Christmas morning about 8 years ago but decided not to go for treatment. I'm still alive as you can see. Tetanus is the real problem with a dog bites but most of us have tetanus shots already, apart from anti-vax nutters. Tetanus is a horrible way to die.

There is a prophylactic vaccine, that is the subject of the topic. 

 

It is actually the same vaccine as that given post exposure. It does not completely eliminate the need for vaccination  after exposure, just reduces the number of doses to only 2 and eliminates the need for immune globulin.  The same thing applies if an unvaccinated person receives the full course of post exposure vaccination aftrr a bite: on any subsequent bites they will need only 2 doses and no immune globulin. 

 

Rabies is just as awful a way to die as tetanus....and just as preventable. 

[kwilco]

On 6/19/2025 at 2:02 PM, hotsun said:

Travelling seems to be becoming more unappealing over time

how come?

[hotsun]

3 minutes ago, kwilco said:

how come?

Well i have kids so maybe im just generalizing but it was alot more enjoyable for me when i was younger. Cheaper too

[kwilco]

21 minutes ago, hotsun said:

Well i have kids so maybe im just generalizing but it was alot more enjoyable for me when i was younger. Cheaper too

How do you relate this to ths thread on rabies? Are you saying ignorance was bliss? THere was a lot more rabies about just a couple of decades ago.

[Nick Carter icp]

3 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Why register with a doctor for Rabies jabs? But hey...

 

  Because you couldn't see a doctor unless you were registered .

I am talking about the post exposure jabs  , rather than the pre exposure jabs .

   Pre exposure jabs can probably be done in clinics , post exposure you need to see a doctor and explain why you need them 

 

  The Immunoglobin costs 3022 Baht on its own 

 

Yes, the cost of HRIG (Human Rabies Immunoglobulin) is 3,022 Thai Baht for a 2ml vial, according to the Thai Travel Clinic. 

 

[LosLobo]

15 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

  Because you couldn't see a doctor unless you were registered .

I am talking about the post exposure jabs  , rather than the pre exposure jabs .

   Pre exposure jabs can probably be done in clinics , post exposure you need to see a doctor and explain why you need them 

 

  The Immunoglobin costs 3022 Baht on its own 

 

Yes, the cost of HRIG (Human Rabies Immunoglobulin) is 3,022 Thai Baht for a 2ml vial, according to the Thai Travel Clinic. 

 

Just to clarify — yes, HRIG costs 3,022 THB per 2ml vial at the Thai Travel Clinic, but that’s only the price per vial, not per person.
 

For say an 80 kg adult, the required dose is 1,600 IU (20 IU per kg).

Each vial contains about 300 IU, so you’d need approximately 6 vials.

Total cost: 6 × 3,022 = 18,132 THB — not including doctor or clinic fees.
 

So if you’re discussing post-exposure treatment for the unvaccinated, that price adds up quickly — which is exactly why many people get pre-exposure vaccination and avoid needing HRIG at all.

[Nick Carter icp]

1 hour ago, LosLobo said:

Just to clarify — yes, HRIG costs 3,022 THB per 2ml vial at the Thai Travel Clinic, but that’s only the price per vial, not per person.

 

   Its not only expensive  , they also inject the serum directly into the wound . the needle goes right into the wound and in different locations .

   Insert the needle in six different places inside the would ,