World Rabies Day 2026: Stronger Together for Rabies Prevention and Elimination

September 28, World Rabies Day, was observed in 2026 under the theme “Stronger Together,” highlighting the importance of collaboration across human and animal health, research, policy, and communities in the global effort to prevent and eliminate rabies.
According to the Secretariat of the 1st International Congress of Vaccine and Vaccination, rabies remains one of the most significant zoonotic diseases affecting both humans and animals. Although the disease is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms appear, human deaths can be prevented through effective vaccination, timely post-exposure care, surveillance, and coordinated prevention measures.
For World Rabies Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) selected the theme “Stronger Together,” emphasizing the importance of coordinated action across sectors. Dog vaccination, strengthened surveillance and reporting, public awareness, and timely access to post-exposure prophylaxis remain among the key components of rabies prevention and elimination efforts.
Rabies is also a clear example of the importance of the One Health approach, as effective prevention requires collaboration among human health services, veterinary sectors, researchers, communities, and policymakers. This approach recognizes the close interconnection between human and animal health and promotes integrated strategies for disease prevention and control.
The global Zero by 30 initiative aims to end human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030. Achieving this goal requires sustained vaccination programs, strengthened surveillance systems, access to vaccines and post-exposure prophylaxis, and continued cross-sectoral collaboration.
World Rabies Day serves
 
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as a reminder of the importance of vaccines, research, technology, and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing infectious and zoonotic diseases—priorities that are closely connected to the development of resilient and integrated vaccine ecosystems.
The 1st International Congress of Vaccine and Vaccination aims to connect scientific, research, technological, industrial, and healthcare capacities across the vaccine sector, providing a platform for collaboration and contributing to the development of a stronger national vaccine ecosystem. Within this framework, the One Health approach and stronger connections across different sectors are essential to addressing emerging and future health challenges.

1st International Congress of Vaccine and Vaccination, Milad Tower, Tehran, Iran
Congress Slogan:One Health; United Pioneers via Innovative Vaccine Ecosystem for a Safe Future
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)