Vietnamese people spent a combined VND200 billion (US$8 million) on rabies vaccinations in the first three months of 2024.

The amount excluded the fees of treatment for wounds caused by dogs and cats, heard a teleconference on the prevention of diseases spread by animals on Wednesday.

Statistics from the General Department of Preventive Medicine indicated that since the start of the year, 143,000 people were vaccinated against rabies.

With rabies inoculation priced from VND1.2 million to VND1.5 million ($48 - $60.3), the payment for rabies vaccines has reached VND200 billion over the past three months.

Among diseases transmitted from animals, rabies has a complicated development and has resulted in an increase in human cases of rabies, Hoang Minh Duc, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine, told the event co-organized by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Between January and March, 16 of all 63 cities and provinces across Vietnam reported several rabies cases, and 27 rabies deaths. The central region recorded the highest number of rabies fatalities at nine.

“Rabies not only has a high mortality rate on humans, but also places a burden on the economy.”

“Each year, we spend some VND800 billion ($32 million) on rabies vaccinations and anti-rabies serum,” Duc said.

At the teleconference, many leaders of localities presented their difficulties fighting rabies.

A representative of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands region said that during the January-March period, the province reported four rabies deaths.

“We hope that the Ministry of Health can support the province with rabies vaccines so that poor residents can easily access them,” said the representative.

Duc urged localities to heighten the management of domesticated dogs, especially those without muzzles wandering on streets, and improve rabies immunization rates to minimize rabies cases. 

Data from the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that nearly 5,000 households are raising over 7.6 million dogs and cats.

In 2023, Vietnam’s average vaccination coverage rate against the deadly virus among dogs and cats amounted to 58 percent.

Yet, since the beginning of 2024, only 19 cities and provinces have implemented rabies vaccination drives, with 554,000 dogs and cats vaccinated.

Speaking of a recent proposal from Ho Chi Minh City to implant chips into pets, Nguyen Van Long, head of the Department of Animal Health, saw it as a positive method for applying technology to dog and cat management.

The proposal can be deployed in major cities, while it will take much time for further preparation to make the method practical in rural areas, he stressed.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!