90% dogs in Shimla vaccinated against rabies under special drive

A total of 3,507 dogs, nearly 90% of the canine population in Shimla, have been vaccinated under a mass anti-rabies vaccination drive conducted in the Shimla Municipal Corporation area from August 15 to 29. The exercise showcased an inspiring model of multi-stakeholder collaboration and public participation.

The campaign aimed to achieve high vaccination coverage among community and street dogs, a crucial step in realising the goal of making Shimla rabies-free. The drive was jointly conducted by the MC, Department of Animal Husbandry, Mission Rabies India, NGO Humane People, Rampur; Compassion for Animal Welfare, Neighbourhood Woof, Delhi; Peepal Farm and Just Be Friendly, Assam. Local dog feeders of the MC extended support by guiding teams in their respective wards.

Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan expressed gratitude to all organisations, including those from outside the state, for their contribution. The state government also appreciated the success of the campaign and recognised it as a milestone for rabies elimination efforts. He said as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, more than 70% coverage is required to interrupt rabies transmission. The campaign was carried out in line with the WHO Expert Consultation on Rabies (2018) recommendations.

“To execute the drive efficiently, seven specialised teams were constituted with vaccinators (BVSc interns), data collectors, hand catchers, net catchers and drivers. Their coordinated work ensured that almost all wards of Shimla were comprehensively covered,” said the Mayor.

Dr Balaji Chandershekhar, Director of Operations, Mission Rabies India, stated, “We will continue to support Shimla with vaccines for community dogs every year. We must also strengthen owned dog vaccination strategies through door-to-door coverage to ensure effective protection.”

Supporting this commitment, MC Commissioner Bhupinder Attri, assured that the door-to-door plan for owned dogs will also be implemented in coming phases. The campaign will be conducted annually for at least five consecutive years to ensure no human or animal rabies cases occur in Shimla, he added.