Rabies vaccinations at the rural–urban divide: successes and barriers to dog rabies vaccination programs from a rural and urban campaign in Zambia

As most dogs were found to reside at very low densities, unique challenges to large-scale dog vaccination approaches may impact Zambia, due to high logistical costs associated with these settings. Prioritizing vaccinations in higher-density free-roaming dog populations could maximize effectiveness in resource-limited settings. Private veterinary services were commonly utilized among surveyed dog owners in urbanized communities in Lusaka, suggesting that they are an important collaborator for achieving rabies herd immunity. With improved knowledge of dog population and ownership characteristics, Zambia is well-prepared to design more effective vaccination campaigns as the rabies elimination program expands.