In early June, 61-year-old Phung, from Quang Ngai, traveled to TP HCM to sell lottery tickets. She visited a vaccination center for rabies shots after a dog bit her thigh. The doctor deemed the wound severe. Having been previously vaccinated against rabies, she only required two booster shots this time.

Phung recounted that her two recent rabies vaccinations stemmed from the same dog belonging to a regular customer. Last year, the dog lunged and bit her leg when unattended. This year, when the owner called her in to buy lottery tickets, the dog, now larger, bit her thigh.

Both times, she covered the cost of the vaccinations herself. The owner claimed the dog had already been vaccinated and did not offer financial assistance. Phung remained uneasy, understanding that a pet dog can still pose a risk if not properly managed and monitored.

"I don't make much profit selling lottery tickets, but if I get bitten by a dog, I have to get vaccinated. If I get rabies, there's no cure. From now on, when I sell, I will stand outside and call instead of entering a yard if I see a dog," she said.

Thanh, 46, from Dong Thap, has sold ice cream in TP HCM for over 10 years and has also faced numerous chases by stray dogs. In late May, while stopped in front of a row of rental rooms in Tan Thuan ward to sell ice cream, two dogs rushed out. One bit deeply into his heel, causing profuse bleeding.

After administering first aid, he visited a nearby vaccination center to consult a doctor. Upon learning about the risk of rabies, he decided to complete the full course of shots as prescribed, despite the substantial cost for an itinerant ice cream seller.

"I live in a rented room, raising two children for school. Selling ice cream doesn't make much profit, but I am the family's main provider, so I cannot be complacent. I go through many residential areas daily, so after this incident, I will observe more carefully," Thanh said.

Man receiving rabies vaccination at VNVC. *Photo: Hoang Duong*

Doctor Bui Cong Su, Medical Manager at VNVC Vaccination System, stated that lottery ticket sellers, hawkers, motorbike taxi drivers, environmental sanitation workers, electricians, and scrap collectors are groups highly susceptible to rabies exposure. This is due to their frequent work outdoors and their routine entry into residential areas.

According to the doctor, many individuals proactively seek vaccination after being bitten or scratched by dogs or cats. However, some remain complacent, believing that house dogs are harmless, or that vaccinated dogs or minor bites do not require treatment. A few even resort to traditional remedies, delaying crucial vaccination.

In less than five months this year, the country has recorded at least 30 deaths due to rabies. These fatalities are linked to low vaccination rates among dog and cat populations, widespread straying, and bitten individuals not receiving timely vaccinations. Notably, many deaths involved working-age individuals, often their families' main providers.

Doctor Su advised people who frequently visit homes to observe the gate area, yard, and any warning signs indicating dogs. If a dog is loose, barking aggressively, or lunging, they should stand outside and call the owner for assistance, avoiding unauthorized entry.

When bitten or scratched by a dog or cat, individuals should not be complacent, even if the owner claims the animal has been vaccinated. The injured person needs to wash the bite wound under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes, then disinfect it and go to a medical facility as soon as possible.

Many families choose to keep multiple dogs to guard their homes; they can attack strangers if not supervised, leashed, or muzzled. *Photo: Vecteezy*

Depending on the wound's location, severity, history of rabies vaccine, and immune status, doctors will prescribe an appropriate regimen. Individuals who have previously completed a full rabies vaccine regimen as prescribed may only need two booster shots. In contrast, unvaccinated individuals may require a full regimen and anti-rabies serum if the wound is severe, in critical areas like the head, face, neck, or nerve-rich regions.

People should not arbitrarily skip doses or alter the vaccination schedule without a doctor's opinion. For dog and cat owners, it is essential to regularly vaccinate pets against rabies, prevent them from roaming freely, muzzle them in public, and proactively assist bitten individuals in seeking medical treatment. According to current regulations, owners whose animals cause injury or property damage to others can face fines from 2 to 3 million VND.

Beyond post-exposure vaccination, individuals can also proactively receive pre-exposure vaccine before being bitten or scratched by animals. This helps create early protective immunity, requiring only two additional doses if bitten, without the need for anti-rabies serum, regardless of the wound.

Hoang Duong