Analysis of two different mass vaccination strategies against rabies in dogs and cats.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated whether there were differences in vaccination coverage rates between municipalities with different vaccination strategies regarding the species and the coverage rates during different day periods. The vaccination period was categorized as M1 (morning; 09h00 am - 11h00 am), M2 (morning/afternoon; 11h00 am - 01h00 pm), M3 (afternoon; 01h00 pm - 03h00 pm), and M4 (afternoon; 03h00 pm - 05h00 pm). A repeated measures model compared the vaccination rate between periods and municipalities. The interaction between time and municipality was statistically significant (P < 0.01), indicating that the vaccination rate difference between periods depended on the municipality analyzed. Results of the difference between proportions analysis revealed that municipality B vaccinated 3.3% (2.2%-4.4%, 95% confidence limits) less dogs and 20.1% (17.9%-22.4%, 95% confidence limits) less cats than the municipality A. In municipality A, the vaccination rate in period M1 was higher than in periods M3 (P = 0.07) and M4 (P < 0.01). The vaccination rate was higher in M2 than in M4 (P < 0.01). In municipality B, the vaccination rate in period M1 was higher than in M2 (P = 0.01). The vaccination rate in M2 was lower than that observed in M3 (P = 0.01) and M4 (P = 0.01). Based on these results, mass vaccination campaigns have better results during the week, with the highest vaccination rate at lunchtime.