Recognized Immunity Period of Animal Rabies Vaccines

Section 30 Section 30.90  Recognized Immunity Period of Animal Rabies Vaccines a)         The Department will accept the recognized immunity period of animal rabies vaccines licensed by Biologics Licensing and Standards Staff of Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture.  To aid county officials in enforcing the Animal Control Act, the Department will periodically issue to the Administrator of each county a list of the licensed animal rabies vaccines recognized for use in Illinois, and the recognized immunity period of those vaccines. At such time as new animal rabies vaccines are recognized, or revisions made in recommendations, the Department shall so notify the Administrator. b)         Animal rabies vaccines shall be administered to dogs or other animals by the route and in the amount recommended by the producer of the vaccine. c)         Dogs required to be vaccinated against rabies as specified in Section 8 of the Animal Control Act shall be revaccinated within the time period specified for the particular vaccine administered, EXCEPT that dogs initially vaccinated when less than 1 year of age shall be revaccinated 1 year after the initial vaccination. Thus, when an animal rabies vaccine recognized as conveying a 3-year immunity is administered to a dog which is at least 1 year of age at the time of vaccination, that vaccination shall be recognized for a period of 3 years. If, however, a dog is under 1 year of age at time of initial vaccination with a vaccine recognized as conveying a 3-year immunity, that vaccination will only be recognized for a period of 1 year. d)         The certificate of vaccination issued shall specify the recognized duration of immunity in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) above. e)         When the vaccine manufacturer recommends that 2 doses of an animal rabies vaccine be administered at specific time intervals for initial immunization, a dog receiving such vaccine cannot be considered as officially vaccinated against rabies until it has received both injections AND the rabies vaccination certificate shall not be issued until the dog has received the second injection of the vaccine. f)         There is no recognized vaccine approved for use on wild animals; therefore, wild animals shall not be vaccinated against rabies.  Any wild animal so vaccinated shall not be recognized as an official vaccinate and such animal shall be subject to the provisions of the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act [720 ILCS 585].