No vaccines provided to households vaccinating their own pets against rabies

Danger always lurks if precautions are not taken

Rabies has recently broken out in some localities such as Lao Cai, Bac Kan, Dong Nai, causing many deaths. In the face of this situation, Thai Nguyen province’s livestock and veterinary sector requires localities and people to stay vigilant because the rabies virus poses a direct threat to human life.

The organization and direction of rabies vaccination must be strictly implemented. On March 30, Thai Nguyen city simultaneously launched rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, divided into two phases, in which phase 1 is completed with 23,000/25,000 dogs and cats vaccinated, reaching 92% of the assigned target.

According to Dao Thi Kim Quy, Director of the Thai Nguyen City Agricultural Service Center, rabies prevention has been implemented resolutely and effectively by Thai Nguyen province. The majority of people actively respond to rabies vaccination and consider it the responsibility of pet owners to the whole society. However, the danger of rabies is always lurking if professional agencies and people lack preventive measures.

“We do not provide vaccines to households for self-injection. We want to avoid cases where quality and injection techniques are not guaranteed, leading to the vaccine not creating protective immunity for dogs and cats. People participating in the vaccination are equipped with protective equipment, ensuring safety for them and the pets during the process,” said Director Dao Thi Kim Quy.

Raising awareness of rabies in children

Phan Van Dinh's family (residential group 2, Chua Hang ward, Thai Nguyen city) loves to raise pet dogs. His children always consider pets as indispensable companions and often play with them when at home. Taking advantage of Sundays when the children do not have to go to school, Dinh and his wife take their two children to a rabies vaccination site to raise their awareness of the dangerous disease.

“Through information from the press, I learn that there have been many deaths due to rabies in some localities recently. My children love animals, so I educate them early on the importance of rabies vaccination. Dogs must be muzzled and leashed when walking, and you absolutely should not let dogs and cats roam without control so as not to affect the people around them,” said Phan Van Dinh.

Phu Luong district (Thai Nguyen) has simultaneously launched the first round of rabies vaccination on dogs and cats with 18,500 doses, accounting for 92.5% of the total herd. Information from Deputy Director of Phu Luong District Agricultural Service Center Ninh Thi Thang shows that the rabies vaccination campaign aims to create active immunity for dogs and cats, prevent the risk of re-outbreaks from old outbreaks, and minimize cases of the disease in dogs, cats, and humans.

Local authorities will evaluate current conditions, terrain, and population distribution to organize centralized vaccination points and mobilize people to bring their dogs and cats. The ultimate goal is to shorten time, ensure vaccine quality, and limit scattered vaccination in households.

In Phu Luong district, dog owners are supported 100% of the cost of buying vaccines. The locality will review and promptly vaccinate dogs and cats of 4 weeks of age or older and those that have not been vaccinated in phase 2.

The time, location, and rabies vaccination fee will be announced to villages and residential groups one day in advance so that dog and cat owners can plan to catch and keep their pets in check and bring them to a centralized vaccination point or lock them at home to avoid letting them run free, causing difficulties for the vaccination team. In accordance with the plan, the rabies vaccination campaign for dogs and cats in Phu Luong district will be completed before April 5.

During this period, Pho Yen city is allocated 22,500 doses of vaccine by Thai Nguyen province for rabies vaccination. On the first day of the campaign, over 95% of the total dog population in the area is vaccinated (equivalent to nearly 21,400 dogs). People are supported with 80% of the price of the rabies vaccine.