GMOA raises concerns over proposed changes to dog vaccination programme

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has raised concerns over proposed legal changes governing dog vaccinations, warning that the move could disrupt Sri Lanka’s rabies control programme.

In a statement, the GMOA said a provision in the proposed legislation would allow dogs to be vaccinated only under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon.

The association argued that implementing such a requirement would not be practical due to the limited number of government veterinary surgeons and could affect the existing vaccination programme operated through the Ministry of Health.

According to the GMOA, dog vaccinations are currently carried out by specially trained vaccinators, with the programme operating through 362 Medical Officer of Health areas under the supervision of health officials.

The GMOA said Sri Lanka’s dog vaccination coverage currently stands at around 60%, while the targeted level is 70%.

It also pointed to a previous transfer of the vaccination programme to the Department of Animal Production and Health in 2017, claiming vaccination coverage, which had been above 60%, fell to around 6% within a year before the programme was subsequently returned to the health authorities.

The association said Sri Lanka has made significant progress in reducing human deaths from rabies, from around 350 annually during the 1970s to 14 last year. Data included with the statement showed seven human rabies deaths recorded so far in 2026.

The GMOA further said a study conducted with the involvement of the World Health Organization and the World Organisation for Animal Health had recommended that the dog vaccination programme continue under the Ministry of Health.

It called for the proposed provision requiring direct veterinary supervision to be amended without disrupting the existing national vaccination programme.

The GMOA also raised concerns over provisions relating to suspected rabid or aggressive dogs, claiming that existing police powers to capture animals posing a threat to the public would be removed under the proposed law.

The association urged authorities to review and amend the relevant provisions before proceeding with the legislation. (Newswire)

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