Tomorrow, September 28, World Rabies Day is celebrated, one of the most common infectious diseases in dogs, which directly affects their central nervous system, and can be transmitted to humans through saliva or bites.
A disease that, despite its severity, Spain does not have an agreement between administrations to stop possible outbreaks. For this reason, the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE) asks the competent medical authorities to “establish a single criterion for vaccination against this disease, which knows no borders and can pose a great danger to our dogs.”
Currently, the fight against rabies is subject to various legislations. For example, Galicia is the only territory where there is no legal imperative. In others, such as the Basque Country or Asturias, the mandatory nature of the rabies vaccine has recently been implemented. In Cataloniawhich also has the powers in this matter transferred, mandatory vaccination is still is in legislative process.
“Far from having deadlines comparable to the entire territory, each autonomous community has its own requirements. Thus, in Madrid, Murcia, Extremadura, Aragón, Castilla y León and the archipelagos, only primary vaccination is requested (between 3 and 4 months of life) of one dose, reinforced with annual revaccination. In other communities such as Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia, the first vaccination includes two doses 21 days apart, apart from the mandatory annual reinforcement. This also occurs in Ceuta and Melilla, the places with the highest risk of rabies for dogs due to their proximity to Morocco. In La Rioja and Navarra the same obligation is fulfilled, but with a booster vaccine every two years, instead of one,” they explain from the RSCE.
The RSCE, supported by veterinary criteria of broad international consensus, such as those issued by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), considers that “An early first vaccination should be required at the national level, reinforced by a vaccination every one or two years. depending on the needs of each dog. “This would be the most economical option and also the most viable from a medical point of view,” they say.
Taking into account, precisely, the economic cost of vaccinating, they also propose that, if there is a law with state implementation, it should contemplate the subsidy, or indirect aid for the cost of vaccinating. “Currently, the price ranges between €30 and €70 per rabies vaccine, reaching €100 if it is a multipurpose vaccine, so it can be a significant dent in the pocket,” they indicate.
The price is another factor that varies by community, since each site usually follows the recommendations of the local veterinary college. In any case, the price to pay for a rabies vaccine will always be less than the price that a dog owner will have to assume if he or she contracts this infectious disease.
According to the president of the Royal Canine Society of Spain (RSCE), Jose Miguel Dovalthe harmonization “is a health issue, above other political and administrative considerationsso it is key to reinforce regulatory coordination throughout the country.”
2023-09-27 10:29:45
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