Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam Joins Hands with Partners to Eliminate Rabies in the Community for the Third Consecutive Year

In continued efforts to contribute to eliminating rabies, Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam will join hands with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Duc Hue District People's Committee, Long An Province, to implement the program "Rabies vaccination for the community" and provide free rabies vaccination for close to 7,000 dogs and cats in the locality from April 15, 2023, to April 21, 2023.

The program "Rabies vaccination for the community" has been implemented by Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam Company in Duc Hue district since 2021, with a total of more than 12,400 vaccinated dogs and cats.

Thanks to the campaign, the percentage of vaccinated animals in the district has increased (90% in 2021 and 96% in 2022). This rate far exceeds the WHO-recommended minimum vaccination rate of 70% in at-risk areas to ensure effectiveness in preventing human rabies 1.

Assoc.  Dr. Nguyen Tat Toan, Vice President of Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City speaking at the opening ceremony

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 59,000 people die from rabies every year in the world2. In Vietnam, although some progress has been made in the past 10 years, the death rate is still between 70 and 100 per year. In 2022 alone, the whole country recorded nearly 60 human deaths from rabies3.

Dr. Torsten Hardge, Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam, said: "Our vaccination campaigns in Duc Hue district have proven that, if animals are healthy, people are healthier too. As a leader in veterinary medicine, we are proud to protect animals against rabies, and contribute to prevent and eliminate rabies in Vietnam."

Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam continues to team up with Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City and Navetco to implement the campaign. Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City plays an important role in providing expertise, manpower, and field support throughout the campaign. 60 well-trained students are ready to support the rabies vaccination and educate people about the importance of rabies prevention, to protect themselves and people around them.

Ms. Dinh Thi Phuong Khanh, Deputy Director and Representative of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Long An province, shared: "The program "Rabies vaccination for the community" in Duc Hue district has brought positive impacts, reducing the fatality caused by rabies in dogs and cats and contributing to protecting the health and lives of people."

"We would like to express our gratitude to Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam and Nong Lam University of Ho Chi Minh City for their continuous support and assistance in the campaign to eliminate rabies in Long An,” she added.

During the week of the campaign, Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam and its partners will organize extracurricular activities to educate Duc Hue’s primary students about rabies and raise awareness in the community about mass vaccination and rabies prevention.

D.A (Vietnam Business Forum)