Mass vaccination programmes should reach an appropriate number of animals each year (at least 70%, but depending on the setting this threshold could be higher, e.g. in populations with very high turnover, or lower, e.g. in areas where dog movements are restricted) and maintain this level of coverage over time until rabies cases have been eliminated through frequent (at least annual) vaccination campaigns. Vaccination coverage should be determined prior to the start of the mass dog vaccination programme (although this may be difficult if an operational research strategy is chosen) and from then on after the onset of the campaigns following each campaign, e.g. each year if the campaigns are carried out annually. You may have to take into account dog immigration into your project area. If resources are limited and coverage cannot be estimated following each campaign, it is important that vaccination campaigns are still conducted. Click here for details of how to estimate vaccination coverage.
- Photo courtesy of the Serengeti Carnivore Disease Project
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