Rabies
Rabies (before exposure)
IMOVAX RABIES · RABAVERT
Three doses over 3 to 4 weeks. Every product below is a Health Canada authorized vaccine; every schedule comes from the Canadian Immunization Guide.
Products authorized in Canada
Brand names and DINs (Drug Identification Numbers) as Health Canada's Drug Product Database lists them. The product monograph is the manufacturer's full prescribing information approved by Health Canada.
| Product | DIN | What it is | Presentation and age | Official information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMOVAX RABIES | 01908286 | Rabies virus, inactivated (human diploid cell) | 2.5 IU / vial · powder for suspension · intramuscular · any age | Product guideHealth Canada recordProduct monograph (PDF) |
| RABAVERT | 02267667 | Rabies virus, inactivated (purified chick embryo cell) | 2.5 IU / 1 mL · powder for solution · intramuscular · any age | Product guideHealth Canada recordProduct monograph (PDF) |
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnancy
After an exposure, treatment is always given. Pre-exposure vaccination is deferred unless the risk during pregnancy is increased.
Breastfeeding
Use if indicated.
Source: Immunization in pregnancy and breastfeeding: Canadian Immunization Guide — Chapter updated August 2026. Live vaccines are generally contraindicated in pregnancy; routinely recommended vaccines can be given while breastfeeding unless the chapter says otherwise.
How many doses
The schedules the Canadian Immunization Guide describes for this vaccine. Which one applies depends on age, health and product — use the dose planner to see the dates for your situation.
| Schedule | Doses | Who it is for | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabies before exposure — three doses (days 0, 7 and 21 to 28) Three doses over 3 to 4 weeks for people at high risk of rabies exposure. | 3 doses | Pre-exposure series for very-high-risk and high-risk groups (laboratory workers, veterinarians, animal control, travellers to high-risk areas with limited access to care): days 0, 7 and 21 to 28. Moderate-risk people may use a two-dose day 0 and day 7 to 28 schedule. This is not the schedule after an animal bite. | IMOVAX RABIES, RABAVERT |
| Rabies before exposure — weakened immune system, three doses plus blood test Three doses on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28, with a blood test 2 to 4 weeks after the series. | 3 doses | Immunocompromised people in any risk group receive the full three-dose pre-exposure series on days 0, 7 and 21 to 28. A blood test 2 to 4 weeks after the series is mandatory; extra doses may be needed if the antibody level is inadequate. | IMOVAX RABIES, RABAVERT |
Sources
- Rabies vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide — Chapter revised January 2015 · partial update April 2026
- Health Canada Drug Product Database — product records and monographs
Clinical rules reviewed on 2026-09-27. General information from public Canadian guidance; a personal assessment is needed for treatment decisions. Care365 does not decide whether a vaccine is publicly funded in Ontario.