Centralized rabies vaccination brings many benefits

Faced with the complicated developments of rabies, Tay Ninh is actively implementing concentrated vaccination campaigns for dogs and cats in the province. This is considered an important measure to control rabies, protect public health and reduce tragic deaths.

Tay Ninh strengthens the implementation of concentrated rabies vaccination on dogs and cats to improve the effectiveness of rabies prevention in the community. Photo: Le Binh .

In 2024, the Tay Ninh Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department organized many rabies vaccination campaigns in localities. A typical example was the concentrated rabies vaccination campaign in Hoa Thanh town in May 2024. The Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station coordinated with the Long Hoa Ward People's Committee to organize vaccinations at three centralized locations, with 300 doses of vaccine allocated.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, Head of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine of Tay Ninh, this year the locality continues to organize concentrated rabies vaccination points in 9 districts, towns and cities with 3 concentrated rabies vaccination points/district. This is a measure to raise awareness of behavior in vaccination and disease prevention effectively.

“The implementation of centralized vaccination brings many benefits. People do not have to waste time looking for small vaccination points, while authorities can easily control and count the number of dogs and cats vaccinated,” Ms. Loan assessed.

Mr. Dao Huy Dat, Vice Chairman of Ward 1 People's Committee, Tay Ninh City, said that from March 17 to March 21, the locality organized 5 vaccination campaigns in residential areas. The program was organized by Ward 1 People's Committee in coordination with Tay Ninh City Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Station to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies to protect public health and prevent the risk of infection. Each vaccinated dog or cat will be charged 50,000 VND/dog.

Tay Ninh in recent years has remained a hot spot for rabies in the southern region. In 2024 alone, Tay Ninh had 4 deaths due to rabies. Of these, 2 were in Hoa Thanh town, 1 in Duong Minh Chau district and 1 in Trang Bang town.

According to the epidemiological investigation of the Tay Ninh CDC, most of these deaths were due to people being bitten or scratched by dogs or cats and bleeding without being vaccinated with anti-rabies serum or rabies vaccine, or being vaccinated late, not getting enough doses, or not being vaccinated according to the instructions.

The situation of free-roaming dogs in Tay Ninh is still quite difficult. Photo: Le Binh .

To effectively control rabies, the People's Committee of Tay Ninh province has included the management of dog and cat herds and rabies prevention and control in the annual emulation and reward targets of the People's Committees at the commune level and related departments and offices. Units that allow deaths due to rabies to occur must review their responsibilities, depending on the severity and circumstances.

Tay Ninh is also strengthening the management of free-roaming dogs in localities. However, implementation still faces many challenges. Many localities lack funding, human resources and means to implement effectively. Propagating and raising people's awareness of responsible dog ownership and compliance with rabies vaccination regulations is very important.

Dog and cat owners in the province are also advised to comply with regulations to prevent rabies. Owners must register, declare, and report dog breeding data to the People's Committees of communes and wards. In addition to committing to chaining, confining, or keeping dogs within the family's premises, owners must ensure environmental hygiene and not negatively affect people around them.

“When taking dogs out in public, the safety of people around them must be ensured by muzzling or keeping them on a leash and having someone lead them. The owner will be responsible for all costs in case a stray dog ​​is captured, including the cost of raising and destroying the dog. In case a dog or cat bites or scratches a person, the owner must compensate the victim according to the law,” Ms. Loan added.

Source: https://nongnghiep.vn/tiem-phong-vacxin-dai-tap-trung-mang-lai-nhieu-loi-ich-d745500.html