ILOILO – The province’s low dog rabies vaccination coverage last year may increase the risk of the public being exposed to the rabies virus, warned the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
According to PVO chief Dr. Darel Tabuada, their dog rabies vaccination coverage in 2020 was at 11.44 percent only, equivalent to 30,007 dogs out of the 262,214 dog population of the province.
This figure, he added, is lower than the 23 percent or 58,284 heads of dogs out of the 258,637 dog population in 2019.
Last year’s dog rabies vaccination coverage target was 70 percent, equivalent to 170,000 dogs.
Based on the PVO records, 10 local government units (LGUs) failed to submit accomplishment reports relative to their dog rabies vaccination program. These were the towns of San Joaquin, Lambunao, Badiangan, Barotac Nuevo, Dueñas, San Enrique, Ajuy, Sara, and Carles, and the component city of Passi.
Meanwhile, the towns with high vaccination coverage were Leganes at 135.84 percent, Igbaras (73.50 percent), Estancia (39.79 percent), Calinog (28.33 percent), and Cabatuan (28.37 percent).
The low rabies vaccination coverage was due to the limited vaccine supply, explained Tabuada.
The Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture had since stopped providing anti-rabies shots.
“Ang main reason nga manubo katama ang vaccination coverage amo ang kakulang sang vaccine matapos nga 1,000 vials lang or equivalent to 10,000 dogs ang nahatag sang provincial government sa kada LGUs,” Tabuada said.
He also attributed the low turnout to the stringent community quarantine last year instituted to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.
“Ang vaccination naga-start February to May pero due to the pandemic, limited ang movement. Amo na nga wala gid man kabakuna ang mga municipal agriculture offices and barangay vaccinators,” Tabuada said.
To increase the province’s vaccination coverage this year, Tabuada said the provincial government procured P4 million worth of canine rabies vaccines in December 2020.
These vaccines equivalent to 10,000 vials are good for 100,000 dogs.
Tabuada said livestock technicians of each LGUs will lead the vaccination drive beginning this January until May. Villages with canine and human positive cases and in “high-risk” areas such as the poblacion and other highly populated areas would be prioritized.
The PVO also urged LGUs to allot funds for anti-rabies vaccines so the province could reach its target of vaccinating 70 percent of the total dog population./PN
