Vaccination Necessary After Dog or Cat Bite?

In China, over 99% of vaccines are not actually administered. This fact has led many people to misunderstand the information provided by doctors and authorities. It seems that if you're bitten by a cat or a dog, you don't necessarily have to spend money on vaccinations, right? But is that really the case?

The idea that more than 99% of vaccines are wasted is a misleading statement. Vaccinations are a necessary part of disease prevention, as they protect us from the unknown. Let's take the rabies vaccine as an example. We can't be certain that every biting cat or dog is free of the rabies virus, so we fear the unknown and choose to get vaccinated to alleviate our anxiety. However, the reality is that the number of biting animals that actually carry the rabies virus is extremely low.

So, while it may seem like we're "wasting" vaccines, it's impossible to determine if they're a waste until after the fact.

Therefore, the claim that "over 99% of vaccines are wasted" is a true but irrelevant statement. But how can we reduce the waste of vaccine money while also addressing our fears?

The "TenDay Observation Method" is one solution. This method doesn't mean you shouldn't get vaccinated; instead, it involves cleaning the wound, getting vaccinated, and isolating the biting animal for observation. If the cat or dog survives for 10 days after the bite, it can be assumed that they were not carrying the rabies virus at the time of the bite, and the subsequent vaccinations can be stopped.

However, it's important to note that this method is not applicable to stray animals. In such cases, you should follow the full vaccination protocol.

Why do other countries not require vaccinations during the tenday observation period? It's because developed countries have implemented strict animal vaccination policies, effectively eliminating the spread of rabies from domestic animals. So, if a person is bitten by a domestic animal, they can initially opt for the tenday observation method without getting vaccinated. But this is only possible in countries that have successfully eliminated rabies transmission among domestic animals.

In developing countries, however, due to economic factors or a lack of rabies prevention awareness, most domestic animals have not been vaccinated. Statistics show that the vaccination rate for domestic animals in China is only around 10% to 40%. It's also difficult for the government to enforce mandatory vaccination requirements for animals, as a vaccination rate of over 70% is needed to effectively prevent the spread of rabies among animals.

Therefore, in areas where rabies is prevalent, it's impossible to guarantee the safety of all animals, even those that have been vaccinated. In such cases, if you're exposed to an animal (even if it's bleeding), you should get vaccinated as soon as possible. This applies even if it's your own dog that has been vaccinated annually. If your dog is bitten, you should still get vaccinated promptly.

Because dogs need to go outside and interact with the world, we can't guarantee that they haven't been exposed to the rabies virus. The low vaccination rate for domestic animals in China is a significant concern. What about indoor cats? Do you need to get vaccinated if you're scratched or bitten by one? Although the incidence rate is low, it's still advisable to get vaccinated for safety reasons. If the scratch or bite doesn't break the skin, you don't need to get vaccinated.

Therefore, in the current environment in China, it's recommended to get vaccinated as soon as possible if you're bitten, scratched, or licked by a stray or domestic animal.

We all know that if cats and dogs are vaccinated, they can receive effective immunity, reduce the incidence of the disease, and we can also reduce the number of vaccines needed. Why not take advantage of this winwin situation?

For our own safety and the health of our furry friends, we should not only get our pets vaccinated against rabies but also urge relevant authorities to take effective measures to increase the vaccination rate of domestic animals. While saving money is a bonus, the key is to reduce the number of injections. After all, the fear of needles is so intense that many people would go to great lengths to avoid them.