RABIES VACCINATION DRIVE
The Challenge
HUMAN RABIES DEATHS
India has around 20,000 rabies deaths a year. According to the WHO, “India is endemic for rabies” and “accounts for 36% of the world’s deaths”. About 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India occur in children under the age of 15 years as bites that occur in children often go unrecognized and unreported.
HOW TO PREVENT:
Rabies is 99% Fatal and 100% preventable through vaccination. Eliminating rabies requires vaccinating and sterilizing the stray dog population. For World Rabies Day, SAFI will vaccinate 1000 street dogs in Hyderabad city.
Rabies Vaccination drive for International Rabies Day – Sept 28th
The vaccination drive focuses on dog health and human health. Sterilizing and Vaccinating will effectively reduce human-dog conflicts. The drive also educates and reminds people what to do if they get bit. Because as soon as any physical symptoms of the disease appear, it is fatal.
The logistics of planning and implementing this drive is not an easy task!
We plan ahead by sending the sign-up forms to feeders, animal lovers, and more. We also recruit volunteers to assist.
Catching stray dogs is a challenge. The dogs see the dog catchers setting off a chase that may or may not result in a dog being caught, immobilized, and given a shot.
Each of our two teams has a minimum of one trained dog catcher, a vaccinator, a record keeper, and someone who applies paint to the dog once it is vaccinated so we do not vaccinate the same dog twice. If the dog cannot be caught by a local feeder or by using treats to bribe them, our trained catchers use their skills to trap them with a net.
We record how many dogs are vaccinated per area, if they are male or female, and if they have been spayed/neutered or not. The goal is to hit a minimum of 70% of the dogs in each area. 70% is the number needed to eradicate rabies.
It is proven that Cruel mass killings previously done by municipalities didn’t work. Dogs simply repopulated. Vaccinating & Sterilizing programs were proven effective in controlling populations in the long term.
Goa is India’s first and only state to become Rabies-free for four years. Kudos to Mission Rabies, World Veterinary Services Goa, and Dogstrust Worldwide. They proved the theory that achieving 70% vaccination coverage leads to eliminating the disease.
Rabies signup is closed. Check back next year.
SPONSORERS
More about India’s Rabies public health Crisis
India faces a grave public health crisis with approximately 20,000 rabies deaths each year. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is endemic for rabies, accounting for a staggering 36% of global rabies-related deaths. Shockingly, 30-60% of these cases involve children under 15, as bites often go unnoticed and unreported.
95-99% of all human rabies cases result from dog bites. India records an estimated 17.4 million dog bites annually. By eliminating rabies in dogs, we can prevent nearly all human rabies deaths globally, saving over 59,000 lives each year.
Rabies is a 99% fatal disease but 100% preventable through vaccination. Eliminating rabies requires sustained vaccination over multiple years and sterilizing the stray dog population. Unfortunately, India resorted to the organized, inhumane mass killing of dogs, believing it would curb rabies. But it does nothing to halt the spread of rabies, and dogs repopulated. Goa is India’s first and only state to become Rabies-free for four years. Thanks to Mission Rabies, World Veterinary Services Goa, and Dogstrust Worldwide. They proved that achieving 70% vaccination coverage leads to eliminating the disease.
Post-bite vaccines aren’t readily available in resource-poor countries like India, where the average cost is $49—often unaffordable for families earning just $1-$2 daily. In contrast, dog vaccination costs only $3, offering a cost-effective solution to rabies elimination compared to post-exposure treatment.
Rabies prevention isn’t only about saving lives; it’s also about eradicating the disease in dogs, a crucial step in preventing human transmission and safeguarding communities.
In conclusion, rabies prevention is a pressing mission in India, given its alarming mortality rates. The Stray Animal Foundation of India is committed to eradicating rabies by vaccinating dogs, and sterilizing and educating communities.
Supporting our vaccination drive contributes to saving human and canine lives and fosters a safer, healthier India. Together, we can eliminate rabies and create a better future for all living beings.
Thank you for your support, and let’s work together for a rabies-free India.
