902 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:070

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 902 KAR 2:070 - Rabies control

RELATES TO: KRS 258.005, 258.015, 258.035, 258.043, 258.085, 258.990(1), (2)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 194A.050(1) requires the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to operate the programs and fulfill the responsibilities vested in the cabinet. KRS 258.075 authorizes the secretary to administer the provisions of KRS 258.005 to 258.087 through the local health departments and to promulgate administrative regulations necessary to effectuate a statewide rabies control program. KRS 258.015 requires the cabinet to approve a vaccination certificate form. KRS 258.043 authorizes a local health department to sponsor a mass rabies immunization clinic and to establish a reasonable fee to be charged to the owner of each dog, cat, or ferret vaccinated to help defray the cost of the clinic. This administrative regulation establishes uniform procedures for the diagnosis, prevention, and control of rabies, and for operating a mass rabies clinic.

Section 1. Brands and Types of Approved Vaccine. All brands and types of antirabies vaccine approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions shall be approved vaccines for the purpose of this administrative regulation.

Section 2. Vaccination Schedule. The vaccination schedule for all dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be as established in this section.

(1)

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this subsection, all dogs, cats, and ferrets shall be vaccinated against rabies by a veterinarian holding a valid Kentucky license.

(b) An individual permitted under Section 7 of this administrative regulation may vaccinate a dog owned by that individual.

(2) A dog, cat, or ferret initially vaccinated shall be revaccinated one (1) year after the initial vaccination regardless of the type of vaccine used or age of the animal at the time of vaccination.

(3) After the vaccination required by subsection (2) of this section, the period of time required for revaccination shall be dependent upon the type of vaccine administered and the next vaccination due by date as documented on the vaccination certificate.

(4) The current revaccination recommendations of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc. may be utilized in determining expiration dates of vaccines.

Section 3. Vaccination Certificates. A vaccination certificate shall provide the information found on the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians NASPHV Form 51, Rabies Vaccination Certificate. Certificate information shall either be:

(1) Handwritten on a reproduction of the NASPHV Form51; or

(2) Computer generated.

Section 4. Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets Brought into State.

(1) Each dog, cat, or ferret brought into Kentucky shall be vaccinated in accordance with KRS 258.035.

(2) Reciprocity with other states shall be granted if the vaccine is approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by a veterinarian licensed in that state.

Section 5. Animals Suspected of Being Infected by Rabies.

(1) An animal suspected of being infected by rabies shall be quarantined in accordance with KRS 258.085.

(2) An animal ordered for quarantine in accordance with KRS 258.085(1)(a) shall be quarantined in a manner that limits the animal's exposure to humans or other animals.

(3) If a dog, cat, or ferret is ordered to be destroyed and tested for rabies pursuant to KRS 258.085(1)(b), it shall be killed in a manner as to preserve the brain intact. The animal shall not be shot or clubbed in the head. A wild animal suspected of rabies shall be sacrificed and its head submitted to the laboratory immediately.

Section 6. Sending Heads of Ownerless Animals to the Laboratory. If the ownership of a rabies suspect animal is unknown, the expense of forwarding the head of the animal to the laboratory shall be borne by the local health department.

Section 7. Rabies Vaccination Permits for Owners of Dogs.

(1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall issue a permit to an owner of a dog to vaccinate a dog owned by that individual upon satisfactory passage of an examination prescribed by the cabinet.

(2) An individual seeking an initial permit to vaccinate a dog owned by that individual shall:

(a) Register with the state public health veterinarian by September 30;

(b) Attend the instructional course on rabies, epidemiology, laws, and vaccine administration; and

(c) Pass the written examination with a score of seventy (70) percent or higher.

(3) The course required by subsection (2)(b) of this section shall be provided annually in Frankfort at no charge to the participant.

(4) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall revoke any permit issued under this administrative regulation upon finding that the permittee had vaccinated a dog not owned by the permittee.

(5)

(a) A permit holder shall renew the permit between January 1 and February 28 each year unless the permit has been suspended, revoked, or cancelled.

(b) A permit shall be renewed by:

1. Returning the Renew Qualified Person Form provided with the certificate of approval to administer a rabies vaccination; or

2. Contacting the state public health veterinarian by phone or email to request renewal.

(c) Failure to renew between January 1 and February 28 of each year shall result in permit cancellation.

(6) Upon transfer of ownership, a dog vaccinated for rabies by a qualified person shall be revaccinated by:

(a) A licensed veterinarian; or

(b) The new owner if that individual is also a qualified person.

Section 8. Local Health Department Operating a Mass Rabies Vaccination Clinic.

(1) A local health department may sponsor a countywide rabies vaccination clinic per year for the purpose of vaccinating dogs, cats, and ferrets.

(2) At least one (1) Kentucky licensed veterinarian shall be available on-site during the rabies clinic to:

(a) Provide the initial vaccine to a dog, cat, or ferret in accordance with Section 2 of this administrative regulation;

(b)

1. Provide a three (3) year vaccine booster to a dog or cat with proof of previous rabies vaccination; and

2. Provide a one (1) year vaccine booster to a ferret with proof of previous rabies vaccination; and

(c) Be available to provide medical care if an adverse vaccine event occurs.

(3) An owner shall not be charged more than ten (10) dollars for each vaccination given.

Section 9. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) The following material is incorporated by reference.

(a) National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, NASPHV Form51, "Rabies Vaccination Certificate," 2007; and

(b) "Renew Qualified Person Form" 3/2019.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Department for Public Health, 275 East Main Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40621, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/resources/publications/.

902 KAR 2:070

CDS-7-1; 1 Ky.R. 188; eff. 12-11-74; Am. 5 Ky.R. 262; eff. 11-1-1978; 31 Ky.R. 630; 945; eff. 11-17-2004; 45 Ky.R. 3560, 46 Ky.R. 476; eff. 9-9-2019.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 194A.050(1), 211.180, 258.015, 258.043, 258.07