Ricardo Castillo, PhD, DVM, MSPH, is the lead author of a new publication in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases titled “An Implementation Science Framework to Understand Low Coverage in Mass Dog Rabies Vaccination.”
His study sheds light on a persistent public health challenge: why mass dog rabies vaccination campaigns often fail to reach the critical 70% coverage needed to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies.
Despite large-scale efforts, vaccination coverage in many settings remains low. By applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), he identified systemic and local-level barriers: under-supported frontline workers, poor communication with communities, and overly rigid campaign strategies that fail to adapt to local needs. He also identified opportunities to improve training, community engagement, and delivery models.
His findings provide a roadmap for improving vaccination campaigns in similar settings worldwide and advancing toward the WHO’s goal of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies by 2030.