Sevier County Health Department Offers $10 Rabies Vaccinations

The Sevier County Health Department is partnering with our county veterinarians to offer $10 rabies vaccinations for dogs and cats at several locations May 3-15, 2018.  Tennessee law requires rabies vaccination for dogs and cats.

2018 Low-Cost Rabies Vaccinations Schedule

May 3 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

• Wearwood Elementary School, 226 Cedar St in Sevierville
• Gatlinburg Pittman High School, 150 Proffitt Rd St in Gatlinburg

May 8 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

• Seymour Intermediate School, 212 N Pitner Rd St in Seymour
• New Center Elementary, 2701 Old Newport Hwy St in Sevierville

May 10 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

• Dupont Community Center, 1720 Dupont Rd St in Seymour
• Pigeon Forge Middle School, 300 Wears Valley Rd St in Pigeon Forge

May 15 6:30 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.

• Sevier Farmers Co-Op, 321 W Main St St in Sevierville
• Northview Primary, 3293 Douglas Dam Rd St in Kodak

The cost of each vaccination is $10. Cash only please.

“Rabies is still a threat in Tennessee, so it’s important that all pet owners keep their dogs and cats up to date on rabies vaccinations,” said Erin Murray, Environmental Health Specialist with the Sevier County Health Department. “Rabies vaccinations protect people as well as pets, since our pets are more likely than people to come into contact with wild animals that may have rabies, and unvaccinated pets could then spread the virus to humans.”

Most reported cases of rabies in Tennessee occur in wild animals. In 2014, there were 40 cases of rabies reported across Tennessee, with 30 of those cases among skunks. Vaccination programs are a major factor in preventing rabies in humans. The last human case of rabies in Tennessee occurred in 2002 when contact with a bat occurred but was not reported.

Rabies is transmitted in the saliva of an infected mammal. Rabid animals are not always aggressive and may carry the rabies virus without showing any recognizable signs of infection. Any animals that are acting strangely, such as nocturnal animals seen out in the daytime, must be regarded as sick and potentially rabid. If a wild or domestic animal seems sick or acts strange, report it to your local animal control agency.

People can be exposed to rabies when attempting to help, feed or handle wild animals, so it’s important to avoid touching any wild animal, especially common carriers such as bats, skunks, raccoons and foxes. If you are bitten or come into contact with the saliva of an animal that may be sick or rabid, contact your health care provider.

For more information about the rabies vaccination clinic(s), call the Sevier County Health Department at (865) 453-2787.

Learn more about rabies online at http://health.state.tn.us/FactSheets/rabies.htm and www.cdc.gov/rabies/.