Rabies post exposure risk assessment information
Updated 14 September 2026
Applies to England
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rabies-post-exposure-risk-assessment/rabies-post-exposure-risk-assessment-information
The rabies post-exposure risk assessment form and calculator remains available to UK Health Security (UKHSA) clinicians via the Duty Doctor pack.
External clinicians who require a rabies risk assessment should contact the Rabies and Immunoglobulins Service (RIgS) on 0330 128 1020. RIgS operates 7 days per week between 9:30am and 5pm.
After this time, the emergency out of hours service is only able to deal with calls about the highest risk rabies exposures (these are untreated exposures to the head or neck, or to an animal that is confirmed to have rabies). Health professionals seeking advice about any other rabies exposures should administer a dose of rabies vaccine if the patient has not yet received any rabies vaccine (or if the next scheduled dose is due) and call back the next day after 9:30am to complete the risk assessment and confirm the timings for further treatment.
Please ensure that the following information is available as it will be required to complete the risk assessment:
- patient name, date of birth, age, address, and NHS number if possible
- date of exposure
- country of exposure
- species and current health status of animal involved
- category of exposure
- site of exposure
- whether the patient is immunosuppressed or has any allergies
- whether the patient has received any previous rabies vaccinations prior to the exposure occurring
- whether the patient has received any rabies vaccines or rabies immunoglobulin following this exposure and dates of these (and brand names if possible)
Members of the public who are concerned about a potential exposure to rabies should contact their GP in the first instance or attend their local A&E if out of hours and they believe it to be urgent.