Oral rabies vaccines (ORVs) were first developed in Europe during the 1970s to control rabies transmitted within the red fox population. Due to the need for the vaccine to induce an immune response in the oral cavity, these vaccines contain modified-live rabies virus which can attach and replicate in the tonsils, where an immune response is triggered.
Importantly, the rabies virus in the vaccine has been modified to such an extent that it can no longer cause rabies, even in animals with a weakened immune system. Over 500 million doses of ORV have been distributed in Europe and North America over the past 40 years. There have been extensive studies demonstrating the safety, efficacy and benefit of using ORVs to vaccinate dogs that are otherwise difficult to handle for parenteral (injectable) vaccination.
In this section we will provide information on how ORVs can be incorporated into dog vaccination campaigns safely and effectively to support rabies control.