Going full force early for the rabies vaccination campaign

Early in the morning, villagers of Thiet Son village (Thach Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district, Quang Binh province) gathered at the hall of Thiet Son village 2 to attend the launching ceremony of the dog rabies vaccination program and support local veterinary staff in implementing the vaccination.

"The villagers strive to vaccinate all their dogs within the week. In cases where they cannot bring their dogs to the vaccination site, we will create conditions for the working group and veterinary staff to come and perform vaccination at home," said Tran Duc Thoan, Head of Thiet Son village 2.

Enthusiastic response from the locals

Attending the launching ceremony of the general cleaning, disinfection and sterilization of the environment and the first vaccination campaign in 2025 at the village hall, Tran Xuan Tuan was very excited. “My family also vaccinated our dogs against rabies very early last year. Villagers also always remind each other to bring their dogs to rabies vaccination sites to feel more safe in their daily lives,” he said.

Hoang Thi Ha also brought her golden-fur dog for the injection, her second dog was following behind. Coming to a crowded place, she hugged her dogs tight so the veterinary staff could inject the vaccine. “Even though I know my pets are gentle, vaccination is still a must. We have to take precautions because we cannot know whether a dog is truly healthy and we also do not know when it will get rabies,” she said.

According to Tran Duc Thoan, Head of Thiet Son village 2, the number of dogs that people have registered to get rabies vaccination has reached nearly 200 up until now. This week, the village authorities, along with local veterinary staff and the district veterinary station will fully vaccinate the registered pets.

Timely support brings joy to the people

Re-established last year, Tuyen Hoa - Minh Hoa Station of Livestock Production and Animal Health (under the Quang Binh Department Livestock Production and Animal Health) has been operating effectively in disease prevention activities.

The station only has five staff members and has to operate in the mountainous areas of Tuyen Hoa and Minh Hoa districts, so it also faces many difficulties. "The biggest encouragement is that wherever we go, the people are very friendly and support us in our tasks. In addition to providing detailed information, people always have a keen interest in disease prevention in livestock and poultry specifically rabies vaccination," Nguyen Dang Bay, in charge of the station, said.

Minh Hoa district has 13 communes and towns with 2 officers in charge. Tuyen Hoa district has 19 communes with 3 officers in charge. From the experience of Le Thi Hong Dien, in charge of 7 communes (including Thach Hoa commune), officers in the vaccination field must stick to the area in charge to monitor and grasp the specific number of registrations for the task to go smoothly and effectively.

"When we are trying to complete the rabies vaccination plan for dogs or other vaccines for livestock, we are always present at the facility regardless of rain or sunshine to disseminate information, encourage and remind people and breeders to follow the announced vaccination schedule," said Dien.

According to Dinh Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of Tuyen Hoa District People's Committee, to encourage and motivate people, the government provides ample support in terms of rabies vaccines. The whole district has nearly 10,000 dogs registered for vaccination during this period. Some mountainous communes receives 50% or 100% support with other types of vaccines.

"Despite difficulties, district and commune budgets must ensure funding for local activities on communication, inspection, monitoring, sampling, purchasing vaccines of all kinds, support for forces participating in vaccination along with other implementation costs," said Vice Chairman Dinh Tien Dung.

Nguyen Dang Bay, Head of Tuyen Hoa - Minh Hoa Station of Livestock Production and Animal Health, said, “We monitor the progress of vaccination, timely detect and correct facilities that do not perform well, clarify the responsibilities of organizations and individuals who are negligent in their duties leading to low vaccination rates to synthesize data and report to the District People's Committee.”

As per the directive of Dinh Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of Tuyen Hoa District People's Committee, after each main vaccination period, the authorities of communes and towns will review the number of newly raised or unvaccinated livestock and poultry to organize additional vaccinations and achieve 100% vaccination coverage based on the actual total herd.

Tuyen Hoa - Minh Hoa Station of Livestock Production and Animal Health will synthesize data and report the weekly progress and the end result of each vaccination period to the District People's Committee, including vaccines injected from outside sources.