Adventures after a dog bite: where is rabies vaccine?

Yesterday the working day of Ani, an employee of Aysor.am, was an eventful one. Firstly, she was bitten by a dog on her way to work, and she spent the remainder of the day in policlinics. Ani went to her district policlinic and revealed that there was no vaccine there. The wound was dressed, and the doctor advised her against getting an injection, saying that the drug might affect weak organs. She was also advised to watch the animal for ten days to find out if the dog had rabies or not. The dog was a stray one. The action “Look for the Dog” failed at the very beginning.

The district policlinic doctor suggested that Ani should be vaccinated against tetanus only, but she refused.

The coordinator of the National Immunization Program Ms. Gayane Sahakian told Aysor.am that in case of an animal bite, both the animal and the person bitten should be kept under control and the person should receive preventive treatment.

G. Sahakian said that if the animal is a pet and it does not die in the next ten days, the person’s treatment is discontinued, but the animal is unknown, then the person should be vaccinated.

According to her, rabies vaccine is available only in policlinics; it is not sold in drug stores. By an order of the Minister of Health, all the policlinics MUST have vaccines and vaccinate patients, if necessary.

The staff of the district policlinic explained that an order for the vaccine has been placed with the Hygienic and Epidemiology Inspection: «We have already received an order, there has been a precedent, and we will henceforth have the vaccine».

When asked if the policlinics are obliged to have the respective vaccine, the doctor replied that they are, but there is a shortage of vaccines and in case of a bite, they apply to the sanitary-hygienic station and get vaccines.

«Personally, I don't have it now,» she noted.

A healthcare puzzle: Ministry officials assured us that all policlinics must have vaccines in accordance with the order of the minister, whereas the policlinic staff said they do not have vaccines, and in case of an accident, they request the vaccine by indicating the bitten person’s name and receive it.

P.S. In short, if you are bitten by a dog, even though a stray one, you should catch it, cherish it so that it will not die. Never set your hopes on the competent bodies.