The Greater Chennai Corporation, on Jan.29, vaccinated 121 dogs across Chennai, with the Rabies vaccine, and also dewormed them. The camp was inaugurated by the Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Dr.J.Radhakrishnan, IAS, at Thiruvalluvar Nagar beach, Thiruvanmiyur. Dr Kamal Hussain, VO, GCC and his team look forward to vaccinating more dogs in the coming days.
Highlighting the importance of administering the vaccine to the dogs, Dr.T.S.Selvavinayagam – Director of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said, “99% of Rabies is transmitted to humans through dog bites. Dogs are one of the sources of the virus Rabies. Thus it is important to vaccinate pet dogs as well with the vaccine.”
Dr.Radhakrishnan, who is also a veterinarian, explained, “Dogs, by nature, are protective of their area. Not all dogs behave erratically unless they feel threatened. However, incase of an unfortunate bite, it is essential to immediately wash the area of the bite with soap in running water. Even if the dog has been vaccinated, the affected person must be vaccinated with the rabies vaccine. In case the dog has not been vaccinated with Rabies, the affected person must also be administered immunoglobulin.” He added that these vaccines are administered free of cost at government hospitals and clinics.
The standard schedule for Rabies vaccine is five doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 30, with day ‘0’ being the day of commencement of vaccination. A regimen of five 1 ml doses of rabies vaccines should be administered. The first dose of the 5-dose course should be administered as soon as possible after exposure. This date is then considered day 0.
