Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Expands Anti-Rabies Vaccination Drive
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has announced a significant expansion of its planned mass anti-rabies vaccination campaign, now aiming to cover at least 5,000 additional puppies born after the October dog census. This decision increases the total target from 47,000 to 52,000 dogs, as officials work to address the growing canine population in the city.
Launch Date and Collaborative Agreement
The city's comprehensive vaccination drive is scheduled to commence on March 15, following a tripartite agreement signed on Friday. This crucial partnership involves the BMC, the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry under Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), and a veterinary service trust. The agreement comes shortly after the Supreme Court issued strict directives regarding stray dog management, emphasizing the urgency of effective public health measures.
Eligibility and Vaccination Targets
BMC officials have clarified that puppies born in November and December, who have now reached three months of age, will be eligible for vaccination. Dr. Debi Prasad Kund, the designated veterinarian and in-charge of animal birth control (ABC) at BMC, explained the ambitious goal: "To achieve the globally recommended threshold of 70% vaccination coverage necessary to break rabies transmission, we need to vaccinate slightly over 36,000 dogs in Bhubaneswar."
Currently, only approximately 5,000 dogs have received vaccinations, primarily those sterilized under the ABC program who received anti-rabies shots during quarantine at kennels. This new initiative represents a substantial scaling up of efforts to protect both animal and human populations.
Operational Strategy and Timeline
Under the mission-mode plan, 15 specialized teams will conduct on-site vaccinations across the city over a two-month period. Each team has been assigned a daily target of vaccinating 50 dogs, which will be captured using nets and released in their original locations after receiving the vaccine. The mass vaccination drive will be supported through comprehensive training, development of standard operating procedures, and coordinated field operations, according to Dr. Kund.
The campaign is expected to begin in the second week of March and likely conclude by May, with veterinary interns from OUAT actively participating in the initiative to ensure its success.
Expert Perspectives and Precautions
Animal rights activist Jivan Dash welcomed the mass vaccination effort as a positive step that could help sterilize approximately 70% of stray canines in the city, thereby controlling population growth during the upcoming mating season. However, Dash emphasized the importance of careful implementation: "The BMC must take extra precautions to ensure puppies are at least three months old before vaccination, as administering shots to younger animals could potentially harm them."
This expanded vaccination drive represents a critical public health intervention aimed at creating a safer urban environment while addressing animal welfare concerns through systematic, scientifically-grounded approaches.
