The United States Department of Agriculture, an agency of the Federal government, announced in 2023 that it would begin a program to air-drop millions of doses of an oral vaccine on public and private land throughout the United States.
The agency and its partners say the vaccines are harmless, but we discovered some concerning data.
Read on to learn about the program, how to identify the air-dropped vaccines, and how to keep your family safe.
Vaccines from the Sky
The oral vaccines are intended to prevent the spread of rabies in wildlife. Rabies is often deadly, the CDC says, but it is 100% preventable. Rabies has already been largely eliminated in domestic animals in the United States, but it does still spread in wildlife like raccoons and bats.
To deliver the vaccines, the USDA is flying helicopters and fixed-wing airplanes over several areas in Massachusetts, Maine, and regions of the South. Employees drop the vaccine packets from the helicopters as they fly low over forests or other land. Texas authorities are undertaking a similar campaign.
Here’s an inside look at how the process works and some tips on how to stay safe (we have a full breakdown at the end of this article, too.)
The vaccines are coated in a fish-flavored exterior that makes them appealing to animals.
Wild animals (and pets–as we’ll see below) eat the packets, and are immunized against rabies infections.
If you see a helicopter flying above your property and dropping small packets, it is likely part of the USDA’s oral vaccination efforts.
Risks of the Vaccine Packets
The USDA says that the packets are safe for 60 species of animals, including domestic cats and dogs. If your dog or cat eats a packet, they may pick up some rabies immunity, although the packets’ manufacturer says they are not a substitute for traditional rabies vaccines for pets (Most states already require vaccination for domestic animals.)
The USDA does caution that if your dog or cat eats a lot of the packets, they may have an upset stomach or even vomit. They also caution people not to touch the packets. If you or your kids were to touch the packets, the USDA says you should wash your hands with water and soap.
Still, the Material Safety Data Sheet for the vaccine packets contains some concerning information. It says that the packets are “Potentially hazardous to health if any of the following should occur: Ingestion, parenteral inoculation, droplet or aerosol exposure of mucous membranes or if broken skin is exposed to infectious fluids or tissues.”
How to Stay Safe
First, learn to identify the packets. We have provided several photos above to help you recognize them. Educate your kids about the packets, too.
The MSDS says “All people should avoid contact, but young children, pregnant women, individuals with immune deficiencies or those on steroids should avoid contact with this vaccine.”
A partner agency offers these guidelines to stay safe:
- Supervise your kids outdoors for 1 week after the packets are dropped
- Never touch or move the packets. If you absolutely need to move one, wear gloves
- If your pet grabs a packet, don’t try to take it out of your pet’s mouth. Your pet may bite you.
How to Identify the Packets
Identifying the packets is important, but can be challenging. Especially after falling from an aircraft, they may look like litter or trash on the ground.
Here are some photos showing what to look for.
Most of the packets come in little pouches and are labeled “RABIES VACCINE.” As this graphic shows, they are about the size of a quarter.
Some packets, though, are surrounded by squares of hardened fishmeal (right). Children may think these are blocks or toys and try to pick them up.
Study these images carefully so that you know what to look for. Show the images to your kids so they know what the packets look like.
Also, please consider sharing this article on your Facebook page so your friends and family members can learn about the packets and learn to stay safe.
A Challenging History
Fighting rabies is, of course, an important task. Still, the dropping of materials onto private property will recall previous efforts, such as the application of DDT, a spectre that it still very present for many ranchers and farmers.
For that reason, it’s essential for the public to know about these applications of live rabies vaccines. They need to understand what is taking place, and also avoid contact with the packets (pictured above) in the event that a packet is seen in the woods or on a person’s property.
Education and buy-in are essential to the success of any public health program.
Please share this story with anyone you think might benefit from this knowledge
Next Step: Aerosol Rabbies Vaccines Under Development
The current USDA program is primarily meant to target raccoons and skunks. These animals live on the ground and are likely to find and eat oral vaccine packets.
According to a recent article, though, the USDA is also considering ways to vaccine flying mammals, like bats, that can also carry rabbies.
Specifically, the article says that “there have been some studies into aerosol vaccines or coating a few bats that will take it back to their colonies through grooming.”
Although those programs are “in their infancy,” aerosol rabies vaccines for bats are undergoing further study. A University of Virginia study says that the vaccines are effective when provided via “oral, intramuscular, intradermal and aerosol routes.”
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