Anti-Rabies Vaccine Price in the Philippines: Free vs. Private Costs

Bitten or scratched just now? Wash the wound with soap and running water for 10 to 15 minutes, then go to an animal bite center today. Cost should never delay treatment, because free options exist.

The anti-rabies vaccine is free at government Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTCs) as long as they have stock. At private animal bite clinics, published rates start at ₱600 to ₱800 per dose. Your first visit costs more once consultation, wound care and a tetanus shot are added. A severe (Category III) bite also needs rabies immunoglobulin (RIG), which starts at about ₱1,800 at a private clinic.

Anti-rabies vaccine cost

These are published prices from the facilities we checked, not a national average. Rates can change without notice, so confirm before you go.

Another shot many readers ask about is the rotavirus vaccine. You can check the rotavirus vaccine cost for its price.

Free anti-rabies shots: how it works at real government centers

The Department of Health supplies ABTCs with anti-rabies vaccine and equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG), and a complete vaccine course has been free at these centers since 2016. In 2025, Malacañang repeated that government hospitals and health centers give the shots for free. “Free,” however, comes with local rules, and stock can run out. Here are two cities that publish how their centers work.

Quezon City has an Animal Bite Treatment Center in each of its six districts, at the Project 6, Batasan Hills, Socorro, Tatalon, Kaligayahan and Melchora Aquino health centers. The vaccines are free for QC residents. Adults bring a QCitizen ID or any valid ID with a Quezon City address. Children bring their immunization card or school ID. The centers are open on weekdays only.

Davao City runs nine ABTCs, including the main center in Magallanes and the one at Southern Philippines Medical Center. The city’s own staff say the vaccine is free as long as they have stock. When it runs out, they write a prescription so patients can buy the vaccine and continue treatment. In early 2025, the center warned that its free supply usually runs low by mid-year. Some satellite centers open only on certain days, so check before you travel.

What to bring: a valid ID, your PhilHealth ID or member data if you have one, any card from a previous rabies treatment, and what you know about the animal (owner, vaccination record). A parent or guardian must come with minors.

If you are told the vaccine is out of stock, ask whether the center can still give you RIG and wound care, and where you can buy the vaccine. Then come back on your scheduled day so you don’t miss a dose.

Animal bite treatment often includes more than one shot on the same visit. You can also check the tetanus toxoid vaccine price in the Philippines if a booster is advised.

Why your first visit costs more than the advertised price

A sign that says “Anti-rabies ₱650” usually means one dose of vaccine, not the whole first-day bill. Here is how a first visit adds up using one clinic’s published rates. Pallad Health in Lipa City posts all its prices online.

Follow-up doses cost much less, because you pay mainly for the vaccine (₱650 per dose at Pallad). Pallad also lists a ₱250 follow-up fee, so ask whether it applies to vaccine visits. Your doctor decides what you actually need. For example, you may not need a tetanus shot if your routine vaccination is up to date.

Don’t estimate the full course as “price × 4.” The number of visits depends on the schedule. Government ABTCs use the DOH 2-site intradermal schedule, with a small dose in each arm on days 0, 3 and 7. Many private clinics use an intramuscular schedule instead. SureVax lists days 0, 3, 7 and 14, with day 28 in some cases. The route also changes the price: Pallad charges ₱650 for an intradermal dose and ₱1,300 for an intramuscular one. Ask the clinic how many visits you’ll need and what each one costs.

Category I, II or III: what each means for your bill

The doctor will classify your exposure at the first visit. Don’t try to decide this on your own.

Private clinic prices compared

At the two animal bite clinics (Pallad and SureVax), the standard per-dose charge ranges from ₱600 to ₱800. Pallad’s intramuscular dose (₱1,300), the single-dose bookings and Maxicare’s package are priced as different services, so they are listed separately. SureVax’s booking listing notes that a full animal-bite treatment can reach ₱13,000, depending on how severe the bite is and your vaccination history.

Clinics often give several vaccines in one visit. If the flu vaccine is included in yours, you can check the influenza vaccine cost.

Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG): the expensive part of a Category III bite

RIG gives immediate protection while the vaccine takes effect. It is given once, at the start of treatment, by injecting it in and around the wound. The dose depends on body weight, so an adult usually needs more than a small child. Two types exist. ERIG comes from horse serum and requires a skin test first. HRIG comes from human plasma.

• Pallad Health: ERIG starts at ₱1,800. “Starts at” means heavier patients or larger wounds can cost more.
• Maxicare: RIG is not part of the ₱5,999 package. Package holders pay member rates for ERIG or HRIG.
• Drugstore: Southstar Drug lists Equirab, an ERIG brand, at ₱1,800 per 5 mL vial.
• Free options: government ABTCs give RIG free when they have stock, and RIG is included in the PhilHealth package.

Drugstore vial prices by brand

All of these require a doctor’s prescription. Southstar listed its rabies vaccines as “available soon” when we checked.

Why is a drugstore vial more expensive than a clinic dose? With the intradermal schedule, each dose is very small, so one vial can cover several patients. The drugstore price is for the whole vial, while the clinic charges per dose.

Be careful with cheap vaccine. In March 2025, the FDA warned about a counterfeit batch of Speeda (FDA Advisory No. 2025-0142). Doctors in Davao noted that fake vials were being sold for about ₱1,500, below the usual price of genuine ones. Buy only from FDA-licensed drugstores and keep your official receipt.

PhilHealth Animal Bite Treatment package (₱5,850)

PhilHealth’s Animal Bite Treatment (ABT) package is a fixed ₱5,850, up from ₱3,000. It covers:

• rabies vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin
• local wound care
• tetanus toxoid and anti-tetanus serum
• antibiotics
• supplies such as syringes, alcohol and antiseptics

The ₱5,850 is not cash given to you. It is paid to accredited providers for your treatment. As of August 31, 2026, PhilHealth lists 1,606 accredited ABT package providers, made up of 1,148 government and 458 private facilities.

Which bites qualify: Under PhilHealth’s package rules, the benefit covers:

• Category III exposures
• Category II exposures on the head or neck
• patients with repeat exposures
• exposure to a rabies patient or to an infected animal carcass

It does not cover Category I exposures, Category II exposures elsewhere on the body, pre-exposure shots, or bites from rodents and rabbits. In May 2026, PhilHealth’s president said the agency is studying whether to cover all Category II exposures. Until that happens, a minor scratch on the arm or leg usually won’t qualify, so ask the provider before treatment.

At a private clinic, saying it “accepts PhilHealth” is not enough. Ask whether it is accredited specifically for the Animal Bite Treatment package, and what you will still pay.

Senior citizen, PWD and HMO

Under RA 9994, senior citizens get a 20% discount and VAT exemption on medicines and on medical services at private facilities. Southstar Drug states that it applies senior citizen and PWD discounts to rabies vaccines when you submit your ID and a valid prescription. At a clinic, ask whether the discount applies to both the vaccine and the service fees.

For HMO members, SureVax describes itself as HMO-accredited but notes that only some branches accept HMO. Maxicare’s PRIMA Animal Bite Care is a prepaid voucher you buy separately, not regular HMO coverage. If you have an HMO card, call the hotline before your first visit to confirm coverage and which clinics you can use.

Frequently asked questions

Pwede bang bumili ng anti-rabies sa botika at ipaturok sa clinic?

Sometimes. You need a prescription to buy the vial, and the vaccine must stay cold on the way. Many private clinics prefer to use their own stock, so ask first. Some government centers do the opposite: when their free stock runs out, they give you a prescription so you can buy the vaccine and bring it back for your shot.

How much is a booster if I’ve had anti-rabies shots before?

If you completed a full course before, or had pre-exposure shots, you usually need only 2 booster doses (days 0 and 3) and no RIG. At published private rates, that is about ₱1,200 to ₱1,600 for the 2 doses. Boosters are free at a government ABTC. Bring your old vaccination card.

How much is the rabies vaccine before a bite (pre-exposure)?

Pallad Health lists pre-exposure shots at ₱650 per dose in Lipa (₱600 in Bauan), and SureVax lists ₱500 to ₱800 per dose. The course is 2 or 3 doses, depending on the schedule. People who often handle animals, such as vets and animal handlers, are the usual candidates. The Anti-Rabies Act of 2007 also provides free pre-exposure shots for children aged 5 to 14 in areas with high rabies incidence.

What happens if I miss a scheduled dose?

Contact the clinic or ABTC as soon as you can so they can adjust your schedule. Don’t restart or skip doses on your own. Completing the series is what protects you.

My dog is vaccinated. Do I still need anti-rabies?

Have the bite or scratch assessed anyway, and bring the dog’s vaccination record. The doctor decides based on the wound, the animal and its history. If the animal stays healthy during the observation period, the doctor may be able to stop the series early.

Before you pay: questions to ask the clinic

• Is the vaccine and RIG in stock today? (Ask this at government centers too.)
• How much is the first visit, and what does that include?
• How much is each follow-up dose, and how many visits will I need?
• Is your price for an intradermal or an intramuscular dose?
• If I need RIG, is it ERIG or HRIG, and what is the estimated cost for my weight?
• Are you accredited for PhilHealth’s Animal Bite Treatment package, and does my exposure category qualify?
• Do you accept my HMO, and do I need an approval code first?
• Will the senior citizen or PWD discount be applied?