Sergipe's statewide rabies vaccination campaign for dogs and cats is scheduled to run from November 3 to December 4, 2026. In preparation, the State Health Department (SES) has begun distributing 350,000 vaccine doses to all 75 municipalities. Municipal authorities are expected to collect the doses and syringes by October 26. These are dates for the statewide operation; residents should check their own municipal government's schedule for vaccination locations and hours.
What is the statewide campaign schedule?
- By October 26: municipalities are scheduled to collect vaccine doses and syringes from the State Center for the Storage and Distribution of Immunobiological Products (Ceadi), according to the SES distribution plan.
- November 3: announced start of the statewide vaccination window for dogs and cats.
- December 4: scheduled end of that statewide window.
The Health Department released this timetable on October 20. The 350,000 doses are the quantity allocated for distribution, not a count of animals already vaccinated. The announcement does not provide a single statewide list of vaccination sites, addresses or operating hours.
Where can dogs and cats be vaccinated? Local dates may differ
To find out when vaccinations will be offered in your neighborhood, check notices from the municipal government, municipal health department or local zoonosis-control service. Before taking a pet to a site, confirm its address, date, hours and local instructions. The statewide window does not mean that every site will operate every day between November 3 and December 4.
One municipality has already published a different timetable. On October 16, the Itabaiana municipal government announced vaccination locations beginning on October 19 and a main campaign day on November 14. This demonstrates that municipal activities may start before the statewide window announced by SES. Itabaiana's dates should not be assumed to apply to Aracaju or other municipalities.
Anyone looking for a particular vaccination site should therefore consult their municipality's published timetable, even though the state has confirmed the distribution of doses.
Why does annual vaccination matter?
Rabies is a viral infection that affects the nervous system of mammals, including humans. According to SES, vaccinating dogs and cats helps interrupt transmission in urban areas. State rabies-surveillance specialist Ana Paula Barros has emphasized the need for annual pet vaccination alongside epidemiological surveillance.
The department reports that Sergipe has recorded no human rabies cases since 2005, but the virus continues to circulate among wildlife, particularly bats. The absence of recent human cases does not remove the need for prevention. Brazil's Ministry of Health likewise identifies dog and cat vaccination as a key measure in controlling urban rabies.
What should you do after a bite, scratch or suspected exposure?
If a person is bitten or scratched, or the saliva of a potentially infected animal comes into contact with a wound or mucous membrane, SES advises washing the area immediately with plenty of running water and soap and visiting a Basic Health Unit (UBS) as soon as possible. Healthcare staff will assess whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is required.
Following contact with a bat, the advice is to seek medical attention immediately, even when no injury is visible. Do not wait for symptoms before seeking care.
