Rabies Vaccination Information

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Executive Summary

This document outlines the New Jersey Department of Health's policies and guidelines for animal rabies vaccination. It details the duration of immunity from injectable animal rabies vaccines, specifically addressing boosting dogs and cats with lapses in their vaccination schedules. The guidelines emphasize the use of a three-year duration of immunity upon booster vaccination for animals that have received at least one vaccination in their life, assuming a 3-year vaccine is used. The document also specifies the requirements for rabies certificates, including the veterinarian's responsibility to provide written certification of inoculation to the owner, complete with their address, phone number, and veterinary license number.

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--- Document: Rabies Vaccination Information Document ---
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH  
Communicable Disease Service 
 
POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR ANIMAL RABIES VACCINATION 
 
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has established the duration of 
immunity from injectable animal rabies vaccines: 
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/duration_of_immunity_nov2016.pdf  
 
BOOSTERING DOGS AND CATS WITH LASPSES INTHEIR RABIES VACCINATION 
SCHEDULE 
 
In general, all dogs and cats that have received at least one vaccination in their life shall 
receive a three-year duration of immunity upon booster vaccination (assuming use of a 
3-year vaccine), even if the animal is several years overdue for the vaccination. Please 
refer to the Duration of Immunity guidance document, linked above, for more 
information. 
 
RABIES CERTIFICATES 
 
The licensed veterinarian administering the rabies vaccine to a dog or cat shall provide 
written certification of the inoculation to the owner by fully completing a rabies certificate 
(NASPHV Form #51) for each animal vaccinated. Veterinarians shall certify the full 
duration of immunity, as stated on the rabies vaccine label and according to the 
Duration of Immunity guidance document. Either a one or three-year duration of 
immunity should be certified. 
 
The veterinarian administering rabies vaccine shall sign each certificate and include 
his/her address, telephone number and veterinary license number on the certificate. 
 
ADVICE TO OWNERS OF DOGS AND CATS NEWLY VACCINATED OR THOSE 
TOO YOUNG FOR VACCINATION 
 
Dogs and cats which have received an initial vaccination less than 28 day previously or 
are too young to receive rabies vaccination (less than 3 months of age) are not 
considered protected against rabies if they are exposed to the rabies virus. 
Veterinarians should advise the owners of these animal of to not leave these animals 
outdoors unattended. Situations have arisien where pet owners have left unvaccinated 
or newly vaccinated pets outside unattended and they have been bitten by rabid or 
otherwise exposed to the rabies virus, resulting in euthanasia or a strict 4-month 
confinement. Veterinarians can help to prevent these situations, which often involve 
young puppies and kittens, by education their clients. 
 
July 2017