Rabies vaccinations surge fivefold in Ho Chi Minh City after Tet

On Monday morning, the vaccination clinic at the institute was crowded with people of all ages seeking preventive shots, particularly against rabies.

Many had been bitten by dogs or scratched by cats while visiting relatives during the nine-day Tet holiday from February 14 to 22.

Nguyen Thi Tieng, 70, from An Phu Dong Ward, rushed to the institute after being bitten on the leg by a neighbor’s dog on Sunday evening.

With multiple underlying health conditions, she worried about side effects, but doctors reassured her that the rabies vaccine would not interfere with her treatment.

“I was terrified when the dog bit me," she said.

“The wound bled heavily, and my family urged me to get vaccinated immediately."

Hoang Hong Hai, 76, from An Khanh Ward, was bitten while visiting friends during Tet.

His blood pressure spiked dangerously due to stress, forcing doctors to monitor his cardiovascular condition closely before administering the vaccine.

Dinh Van Thoi, deputy head of the general clinic at the Pasteur Institute, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that daily rabies vaccinations rose from a few dozen cases to more than 100 during the holiday period.

Thoi explained that the increase was due to more animal bites during family visits and the institute’s decision to remain open throughout Tet.

The doctor warned that rabies has a nearly-100-percent fatality rate, urging people to seek vaccination immediately after being bitten or scratched by dogs or cats.

He insisted on completing the full vaccination schedule without delay.

The institute currently has sufficient supplies of rabies and other vaccines.