Recent resairch prentit in Vaccine an PLOS Biology unnerscores e critical need for coordinated vaccination efforts agin rabies in baith humans an dugs. E studies shaw aat improvin vaccine delivery systems an thorae dug vaccination programs can significantly bring doon rabies deiths, pairticularly in laa- an middle-income kintras.

A study led by resairchers fae the University o Glesga, Ifakara Halth Institute, e Centre for Epidemiological Modellin an Analysis at e University o Nairobi, e University o Edinburgh, an Washington State University leuks at human rabies vaccine supply chains in Tanzania an Kenya. Supportit by the Wellcome Trust, e study pynts oot aat takkin up e Warld Halth Organisation (WHO)-recommendit intradermal (ID) jag method—fit maks it possible for a single vial tae treat mony patients—can reduce oweraa vaccine eese by mair than 55%. Iss method, alang wi improved restockin strategies an decentralisin post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) services fae central hospitals tae local clinics, can bring stockoots doon even in rural areas far patient visits are less frequent.

Martha Luka, heid author o the study an a postgraduate resaircher at e University o Glesga, stated, “It is unacceptable aat fowk are still deein fae rabies fan effective vaccines are available. By improvin stock management an adoptin dose-sparin intradermal jags, kintras can protect mair fowk wi fewer resoorces.” E study’s modellin approach, based on data fae Kenya an Tanzania, offers simple, settin-specific guidelines for tae determine necessary vaccine stock levels an timins for reorderin. Kennedy Lushasi, co-author an resaircher at e Ifakara Halth Institute, cawed on policymakkers, sayin, “Ilka life lost tae rabies is a tragedy– een aat we hae the tools tae prevent. Let’s mak thae tools available tae aabody, aawey.”

In tandem, a separate study published in PLOS Biology examines ower twa decades o dug vaccination records in Tanzania’s Serengeti district. Led by the University o Glesga in collaboration wi the Ifakara Halth Institute an Global Animal Halth Tanzania, e resairch shaws aat sustained an uniformly implemented dug vaccination programs play a vital role in controllin rabies. E study fund aat districts wi comprehensive vaccination coverage experienced few human rabies cases, fyles clusters o villages wi gaps in jags for mair than twa year experienced ootbraks. Dr Elaine Ferguson fae the University o Glesga’s School o Biodiversity, Een Halth & Veterinary Medicine explained, “Unfortunitely rabies circulates sae widely aat even if ye protect some villages for a period, it’s likely aat disease will return, spreidin fae domestic dugs in nearby villages aat are unvaccinated. Aat means dug vaccination needs tae be a concerted an coordinated effort.”

Rabies, een o the maist deidly diseases wi aroon 59,000 annual deiths globally, remains a pressin public halth challenge mainly in Africa an Asia. Fyle effective human PEP vaccines are available, their impact is unnermined by supply chain issues, heich costs, an limited access. Meanfyles, dug-mediated transmission remains a significant soorce o human rabies, wi the WHO reportin aat near 40% o rabies victims are bairns.

E convergence o this finnins comes as Gavi, e Vaccine Alliance, begins investin in human rabies vaccines wi the ultimate goal o achievin zero human deiths fae dug-mediated rabies by 2030. Gavi’s approach involves integratin rabies jags intae national immunisation supply chains in Africa, Asia, an ither supported regions–a strategy aat maun be paired wi widespreid dug vaccination campaigns. Mumbua Mutunga, co-author an PhD Fellow at CEMA, noted, “Strategic investment an data-driven plannin as demonstrated in wir publication is nae jist fine tae hae – they are critical in makkin emergency vaccines accessible, dependable, an timely.”

Thegither, these studies emphasise aat a dual strategy o improvin e human vaccine supply chain an expandin comprehensive dug vaccination programs is essential. Wi coordinated efforts an robust plannin, e goal o eradicatin rabies by 2030 micht weel be in oor haun, ultimately savin lives an reducin e burden on halth systems in vulnerable communities.