Giving heat-stable vaccines to local dog owners is more effective at stopping rabies than sending in teams of professional veterinarians.

Traditional rabies control relies on specialized pulse teams that travel into communities to vaccinate as many dogs as possible in a short time. This study found that a decentralized, community-led approach using vaccines that do not need refrigeration is significantly better. Because local owners can vaccinate their own dogs at any time, they maintain a much higher level of herd immunity over the long term. This method is also much cheaper to run because it removes the need for expensive cold-chain logistics and travel. It offers a realistic roadmap for finally eradicating rabies in parts of the world where resources are most scarce.