Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - Earlier this month, the Jalisco Secretary of Health (SSJ) announced that free rabies vaccinations will be offered to family pets from September 22 to 27 as part of Mexico's National Canine and Feline Vaccination Week.

For the last 19 years Jalisco has been free of rabies. The last case of human rabies transmitted by animals was in 1995 in the town of Lagos de Moreno. During the Reforzamiento de Vacunación Antirrábica Canina y Felina campaign, 924,000 doses of the rabies vaccine are expected to be administered throughout the state in order to keep Jalisco rabies free.

SSJ Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Eréndira Nohemí Ponce Arroyo, said that it is very important that dogs and cats are vaccinated, since animals are often kept as pets and therefore have contact with members of the family. The official stressed that the free vaccines are only available at official SSJ vaccination stations, where the veterinary staff will be properly identified with a badge.

She added that though this vaccination campaign is not available in 100 percent of the state, because some municipalities have met their goals, there is enough vaccine for all of Jalisco, in case people need to vaccinate their pets. The goal this season was to apply 924,000 doses, of which 879,095 have already been administered, representing 95 percent of the objective.

According to SSJ zoological program coordinator, Daniela Ramos Ruvalcaba, all healthy dogs and cats can get the vaccine, even those that are nursing or pregnant, as the vaccination has no side effects. She explained that the vaccine should be given to pets from three to six months of age, and re-administered each year.

During the anti-rabies reinforcing week, the campaign will be conducted in all municipal Canine Care Centres, mainly in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. The SSJ brigade will also visit every house in health regions with coverage below 95 percent, including: Colotlán, La Barca, Autlán, Puerto Vallarta, Ameca and Zapopan.

During the campaign if anyone comes to your home with any product other than the canine rabies vaccination, it is preferable not to let them vaccinate your pets. It is important that people know that only personnel wearing an identification badge bearing the SSJ seal and signature of the Regional health representative are authorized administers. Upon completion they will present pet owners with an original certificate with a gold seal that reads "free rabies vaccination."

It should be mentioned that University of Guadalajara students, who are also properly identified with a badge of SSJ, are also involved. For more information, call 333-030-5065; 030-5066 or 030-5067 during office hours.