In September–October 2026, an oral vaccination campaign against rabies among wild carnivorous animals is planned in Lviv region. The campaign will be conducted on the ground in the region’s fields and forested areas.
Baits containing the vaccine will be laid out outside populated areas; they will not be used in marshes, in bodies of water, or near motorways and railway lines. In total, it is planned to distribute 346,000 doses of the vaccine, at a rate of 25 baits per 1 km² over an area of 13,840 km².
The vaccine is presented as a small nutritious briquette made of meat-and-bone meal, the smell of which attracts wild animals. Inside the briquette there is a jelly-like capsule containing the rabies virus antigen. The product is safe for humans, animals and the environment. After the bait is eaten, immunity develops in the animal in about 21 days and lasts for at least one year.
More than 240 working groups will be involved in the campaign. These will include specialists from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, veterinary medicine institutions, local self-government bodies, district military administrations, as well as representatives of the forestry and hunting sectors and users of hunting grounds.
Residents of the region are asked to treat the vaccine baits with care. If, during a walk in the forest or in the fields, a person comes across such a briquette, they should not pick it up, damage it or move it elsewhere. The bait is intended for wild animals and must remain where it has been placed in order to maintain the effectiveness of the vaccination.