Access to Care: Veterinary Technicians & Rabies Administration Across States
Introduction
Author: Ashley Jacobsen
Department: Institute for Policy & Civic Engagement (IPCE)
Advisor: Graduate Assistant Larissa Mukundwa, Raissa Allaire
Abstract: To address a critical public health and access-to-care gap in Illinois by legislative amendment, allowing trained, non-veterinarian shelter personnel to administer rabies vaccinations under veterinary supervision. The current restriction on Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs) administering rabies vaccines in Illinois presents a barrier to public health objectives, necessitating an evaluation of how modifying this regulation (510 ILCS 5/8) could increase access to preventive care and enhance rabies prevention efforts. In high-volume animal shelters, this policy often creates significant bottlenecks, as veterinary staffing shortages frequently delay vaccination. These delays leave animals, staff, and the public vulnerable to a preventable but fatal disease, while placing undue administrative and physical burdens on limited veterinary resources. This research deploys a comparative policy analysis of successful models from North Carolina, New York, California, and Illinois, where expanded administrative authority has improved vaccination compliance and shelter efficiency without compromising safety standards. Modernizing Illinois’ vaccination protocols encourages a transition to a proven, supervised model that ensures rabies prevention is guided by efficiency and availability rather than by administrative barriers.
Keywords: Veterinary Rabies Vaccination Protocols, Animal Shelter Rabies Vaccination Policy Compliance, Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs)