Recent research published in Vaccine and PLOS Biology underscores the critical need for coordinated vaccination efforts against rabies in both humans and dogs. The studies reveal that improvements in vaccine delivery systems and comprehensive dog vaccination programs can significantly reduce rabies deaths, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

A study led by researchers from the University of Glasgow, Ifakara Health Institute, the Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis at the University of Nairobi, the University of Edinburgh, and Washington State University investigates human rabies vaccine supply chains in Tanzania and Kenya. Supported by the Wellcome Trust, the study highlights that adopting the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended intradermal (ID) vaccination method—which enables a single vial to treat multiple patients—can reduce overall vaccine use by more than 55%. This method, coupled with improved restocking strategies and decentralizing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services from central hospitals to local clinics, can reduce stockouts even in rural areas where patient visits are less frequent.

Martha Luka, lead author of the study and a postgraduate researcher at the University of Glasgow, stated, “It is unacceptable that people are still dying from rabies when effective vaccines are available. By improving stock management and adopting dose-sparing intradermal vaccination, countries can protect more people with fewer resources.” The study’s modelling approach, based on data from Kenya and Tanzania, offers simple, setting-specific guidelines for determining necessary vaccine stock levels and timings for reordering. Kennedy Lushasi, co-author and researcher at the Ifakara Health Institute, called on policymakers, saying, “Every life lost to rabies is a tragedy– one we now have the tools to prevent. Let’s make those tools available to everyone, everywhere.”

In tandem, a separate study published in PLOS Biology examines over two decades of dog vaccination records in Tanzania’s Serengeti district. Led by the University of Glasgow in collaboration with the Ifakara Health Institute and Global Animal Health Tanzania, the research reveals that sustained and uniformly implemented dog vaccination programs play a vital role in controlling rabies. The study found that districts with comprehensive vaccination coverage experienced few human rabies cases, whereas clusters of villages with gaps in vaccination for more than two years experienced outbreaks. Dr Elaine Ferguson from the University of Glasgow’s School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine explained, “Unfortunately rabies circulates so widely that even if you protect some villages for a period, it’s likely that disease will return, spreading from domestic dogs in nearby villages that are unvaccinated. That means dog vaccination needs to be a concerted and coordinated effort.”

Rabies, one of the deadliest diseases with around 59,000 annual deaths globally, remains a pressing public health challenge primarily in Africa and Asia. While effective human PEP vaccines are available, their impact is undermined by supply chain issues, high costs, and limited access. Simultaneously, dog-mediated transmission remains a significant source of human rabies, with the WHO reporting that nearly 40% of rabies victims are children.

The convergence of these findings comes as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, begins investing in human rabies vaccines with the ultimate goal of achieving zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Gavi’s approach involves integrating rabies vaccines into national immunization supply chains in Africa, Asia, and other supported regions—a strategy that must be paired with widespread dog vaccination campaigns. Mumbua Mutunga, co-author and PhD Fellow at CEMA, noted, “Strategic investment and data-driven planning as demonstrated in our publication are not just good to have – they are critical in making emergency vaccines accessible, dependable, and timely.”

Together, these studies emphasize that a dual strategy of improving the human vaccine supply chain and expanding comprehensive dog vaccination programs is essential. With coordinated efforts and robust planning, the goal of eradicating rabies by 2030 may be within reach, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden on health systems in vulnerable communities.