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San Lazaro Hospital is one of the most popular public hospitals for free anti-rabies vaccination for human patients. According to GMA News, around 2,000 people went there daily for vaccines as of June 2025.

Despite this volume, there is no clear step-by-step guide on how the process actually works inside the hospital. This leaves a lot of Filipinos confused and stressed, especially since staff are already overwhelmed and hard to approach for questions.

The goal of this guide is to help you go through the process smoothly and avoid unnecessary stress, based on my own experience in August 2025. Since photography is prohibited inside the hospital, I created a graphic map showing where to go. All Filipinos are eligible to receive this anti-rabies vaccine for free, and some even travel from far provinces just to get it.

Schedule

The Animal Bite Center (ABC) of San Lazaro Hospital operates on the following schedule:

• Weekdays: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
• Weekends: 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
• Closed: Sundays and holidays

Take note that people already start lining up as early as 6:00 AM or earlier, so coming early is strongly recommended.

Step 1: Prepare for the Trip

Before going, make sure you have the following:

• Pen
• Disposable face mask/s
• Past anti-rabies vaccination record (or a photo of it)
• 1x Valid ID
• 1x Photocopy / xerox of your valid ID

For minors, bring a valid ID or school ID plus the guardian’s valid ID.

Expect the whole process to take 4 to 6 hours, so bring food, water, and items for comfort such as a handheld fan, face towel, some cash, and your phone.

How to Get There

San Lazaro Hospital is located at 1367 Quiricada St., Santa Cruz, Manila. You can find it on Google Maps by searching San Lazaro Hospital.

You can take LRT-1 and get off at either Bambang or Tayuman Station. Both are around a five-minute walk to the hospital.

Step 2: Fill Out the Initial Form and Fall in Line

Expected time: 10–30 minutes

At the main hospital entrance, ask the guard for the anti-rabies vaccination form. The form is called the Rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Card.

Fill it out completely before proceeding. After that, you will fall in line again to go to the next guard outpost and then the front desk.

Step 3: Front Desk and Waiting Area

Expected time: 30-60 minutes

Submit your completed form at the front desk. You will be weighed, then directed to the waiting area with chairs. Wait for your name to be called through the announcer window.

Once called, they will give you a separate printed record pape called the Animal and Human Bite Data Sheet. Bring this with you as you enter the building and line up for the doctor’s assessment.

Previously, there was a ₱50 registration fee for first-time vaccinations, but this has already been waived.

Step 4: Doctor’s Assessment

Expected time: 45-60 minutes

Inside the building, the line starts on the ground floor and continues up to the second floor. The doctor will review your records and ask about the bite or scratch, including details about the animal involved.

Given the number of patients they see daily, keep your answers short and straight to the point.

Step 5: Pharmacy Approval

Expected time: 10-15 minutes

After the doctor’s assessment, go back downstairs to the pharmacy and submit your paper for approval.

Depending on the risk assessment, you may be required to receive ERIG (Equine Rabies Immunoglobulin). This involves injecting medication directly into the bite site, and you may need to buy a syringe from nearby food stalls.

If you are only given PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) shots in the arm, no additional supplies are needed.

Step 6: Malasakit Center Approval

Expected time: 30 minutes

Proceed to the Malasakit Center and present the following:

• Approved paper from the pharmacy
• Valid ID
• Photocopy of your valid ID

They will keep the paper and return your ID and vaccination card.

Step 7: Vaccination

Expected time: 20-30 minutes

Line up again for the actual vaccination. Hospital staff will control entry since seating inside is limited.

Multiple nurses administer the shots. During my visit, some nurses were openly joking about sexually implicit topics. You don’t really get much choice when it’s free, but it was an uncomfortable experience.

Follow-Up Doses

Whole process may take 2–3 hours

Follow-up doses are done in a different area. Go to the left side of the hospital and ask for directions to the open grounds area. Bring your vaccination card, valid ID, and a photocopy.

At the open grounds, wait for your name to be called at the front desk. They will return your printed record pape, after which you will line up again at the Malasakit Center for approval. Once approved, proceed to the vaccination waiting area for your next dose.

Final Thoughts

It honestly frustrates me that rabies is still a major issue in the Philippines, and that the government doesn’t seem to treat it as a priority. Many countries like Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and most of Europe are already free from endemic rabies.

Instead of continuously spending on human vaccines, the country should focus on eradication through strict pet registration, stronger animal rescue programs, and mass vaccination of stray animals.

I hope this guide helps you navigate San Lazaro Hospital more easily. I’m not saying everyone should go here, but it remains one of the most accessible options for free anti-rabies vaccines.

If you live in Manila, here are other locations offering free anti-rabies vaccination per district. I’m not sure how their processes work, but it’s safest to prepare the same requirements listed above.

If you can afford it or want to avoid this lengthy process, I strongly recommend going to a private Animal Bite Center (ABC). These clinics usually provide better service and can also administer anti-tetanus shots.

Never ignore animal bites, especially from stray animals, and always complete your anti-rabies schedule. Once rabies symptoms appear, it is almost 100% fatal, even with treatment.

Got any questions or need more help? Leave a comment below.