Da Nang accelerates rabies vaccination coverage

Expanding rabies vaccination coverage to mountainous communes

Over the past weekend, residents of Phuoc Chanh Commune brought their dogs and cats to free rabies vaccination sites as soon as they received notifications from the local authorities. In this mountainous commune, where communities are scattered across a vast area, organizing vaccination campaigns at the local level has made it much easier for residents to access vaccines, helping gradually increase vaccination coverage among companion animals.

Mr. Huan, a resident of Hamlet 3, brought his family's only dog to the vaccination site. Prior to this campaign, the dog had never been vaccinated against rabies.

"Once the village officials announced that the veterinary team would be providing free rabies vaccinations, I brought my dog there immediately. Rabies is a very dangerous disease, so I have always been concerned about it. Now that the vaccination team has come directly to our commune, everyone is very happy. Vaccinating our pets is also a way of protecting our families and the whole community," Mr. Huan said.

Phuoc Chanh is a mountainous commune with a large geographical area and a sparsely distributed population, with many households living far from the commune center. Residents spend much of their time working on upland farms, while most dogs and cats are allowed to roam freely. These conditions present significant challenges for authorities in estimating the animal population, gathering pets for vaccination, and organizing vaccination campaigns.

Information about the campaign was disseminated through the commune's loudspeaker system, community meetings, and hamlet Zalo groups. For households located in remote areas or whose members were frequently away working on upland farms, village officials visited them door-to-door to encourage residents to bring their dogs and cats to the vaccination sites.

According to Mr. Giang, the free vaccination campaign, jointly organized by the veterinary sector and local authorities, has made rabies vaccines much more accessible to people living in mountainous areas, particularly low-income households and those who have not yet developed the habit of vaccinating their pets regularly.

“People are very pleased to receive free vaccinations for their pets. In the coming period, our hamlet will continue visiting every household to raise awareness, encourage residents to register the number of dogs and cats they own, and ensure their animals receive timely vaccinations,” Mr. Giang said.

Rabies vaccination coverage among dogs and cats in Phuoc Chanh Commune remains relatively low. According to Mr. Hồ Văn Huy, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuoc Chanh Commune, the main reasons are that some residents are still not fully aware of the importance of rabies vaccination, have not proactively registered their pets, and continue to allow dogs and cats to roam freely.

As a result, estimates of the local dog and cat population remain inaccurate, making it difficult for the commune to determine vaccine demand and develop effective vaccination plans.

To address these challenges, the commune People's Committee has tasked the Public Service Center with working alongside village authorities to review pet-owning households and conduct household-level surveys of the dog and cat population. Rabies prevention and control messages are also being incorporated into community meetings and activities organized by the Fatherland Front and other mass organizations.

“Once the city allocates the vaccines, the commune will organize vaccination campaigns in every area, giving priority to remote villages and ethnic minority communities. Residents also need to proactively register their dogs and cats so that local authorities can accurately assess demand, allocate sufficient vaccine supplies, and organize vaccination campaigns effectively,” Mr. Huy said.

Increase rabies vaccination coverage

The free vaccination sites in Phuoc Chanh are part of Da Nang City's broader plan to expand rabies vaccination coverage, particularly in mountainous areas and ethnic minority communities.

Under the city's Rabies Prevention and Control Plan for 2026-2030, Da Nang aims to register at least 80% of dog- and cat-owning households and vaccinate at least 80% of the total dog and cat population against rabies during the 2026-2028 period.

From 2029 to 2030, the city plans to raise both household registration and vaccination coverage to 90%. It also aims to establish at least 29 commune-level rabies-free zones as officially recognized disease-safe areas.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Son, Director of the Da Nang Sub-Department of Animal Health and Production, said that in line with the city's plan, the veterinary sector has been working closely with local authorities to implement rabies vaccination campaigns while intensifying public awareness efforts to help residents better understand their responsibilities as dog and cat owners.

To date, several localities have achieved vaccination coverage of more than 80%. However, vaccination efforts in mountainous and ethnic minority communities continue to face significant challenges due to the vast geographical area, scattered population, free-roaming dogs, and the fact that many owners have not proactively registered their pets.

To close the vaccination gap, the city is providing free routine rabies vaccines for all dogs and cats in mountainous communes, ethnic minority areas, and communes classified as Areas I, II, and III. The Da Nang Sub-Department of Animal Health and Production has coordinated with local authorities and grassroots veterinary workers to establish mobile vaccination teams that deliver vaccines directly to villages and residential communities.

The campaign has been registered under the skillful mass mobilization, combining vaccination with livestock population surveys and community outreach to encourage more responsible dog and cat ownership practices.

In 2025, Da Nang City recorded rabies outbreaks in animals at 41 households across 33 hamlets in 21 communes and wards. During the first five months of 2026, additional outbreaks were reported at 15 households in 14 hamlets spanning eight communes and wards. A total of 15 rabid dogs were culled. To date, six communes have gone more than 21 consecutive days without reporting any new cases.