What are the current guidelines on rabies vaccination for travelers to high-risk areas?

Rabies vaccination guidelines for travellers visiting high-risk areas:

• Travellers to rabies-enzootic areas should be offered pre-exposure rabies immunization, especially if they are staying for more than 1 month, unlikely to have access to prompt and safe medical care after exposure, engaging in activities that increase risk of animal bites (e.g., cycling, running), or working closely with animals (e.g., veterinarians, zoologists) ¹,².
• The primary pre-exposure vaccination schedule consists of three doses given at days 0, 7, and 28; the third dose can be given from day 21 if time is limited before travel ¹,².
• If there is insufficient time to complete the standard schedule, an accelerated course of three doses on days 0, 3, and 7 may be administered ¹,².
• A booster dose should be considered one year after the primary course if the traveller will again visit a high-risk area, especially for those who received the accelerated schedule ¹,².
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is contraindicated in individuals with a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose or any vaccine component, and vaccination should be postponed in those with severe febrile illness; minor illness without fever is not a contraindication ¹,².
• Rabies vaccine may be given to pregnant or breastfeeding women when the risk of exposure is high and access to post-exposure prophylaxis is limited, with no evidence of harm from inactivated vaccines ¹,².
• Travellers who receive pre-exposure vaccination should be advised that if bitten or scratched by any animal abroad, they must wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and seek immediate medical attention; if this is not possible abroad, they should seek medical care promptly upon return to the UK ¹,².