South Cotabato — The Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) called for extra funds to intensify its dog mass vaccination program across South Cotabato to protect both animals and communities from rabies, as the province aims to be free from rabies.
Veterinarian III Dr. Ramelo G. Quinton, DVM, emphasized the importance of widespread vaccination coverage
“Mass Vaccination continues in every municipality and barangay here in South Cotabato. The vaccination must be fully saturated and never fall short,” he said, urging full coverage to ensure that all pets receive the necessary protection.
Dr. Quinton also highlighted the challenges faced by the office due to limited vaccine supply.
“Sometimes we are unable to administer vaccines because our supply is insufficient,” he explained.
A study showed that mass dog vaccination is one of the most cost-efficient public health strategies an LGU can invest in. Vaccinating dogs — the main carriers of the rabies virus — costs far less than treating human bite victims.
A single dose of animal rabies vaccine is inexpensive, and achieving at least 70% coverage in the dog population dramatically lowers rabies transmission.
This preventive approach reduces the number of bite incidents and minimizes the need for costly medical interventions, allowing LGUs to manage their budgets more efficiently while protecting their communities.
In contrast, providing anti-rabies vaccines for humans is significantly more expensive. Each bite victim may require several doses of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and, in severe cases, rabies immunoglobulin — all of which rapidly escalate the cost for an LGU that subsidizes treatment.
When bite cases increase, local health funds are strained, diverting resources from other essential services.
Ultimately, every peso invested in dog vaccination saves far more in human treatment costs, making prevention not just a health priority, but a fiscally responsible decision for any LGU.
Dr. Quinton further reminded pet owners of their shared responsibility in preventing rabies:
“We must be responsible pet owners. If our pets are already three months old and above, we should have them vaccinated. We should keep our pets confined or leashed, because even if your pet is not infected with rabies, they can still get infected by stray animals,” he further emphasized.
The OPVet continues to coordinate with local government units and barangay officials to reach more households, especially in remote areas, ensuring accessible vaccination services for all pets.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the ongoing vaccination campaigns in their municipalities to help South Cotabato move closer to becoming a rabies-free province.
