Final answer:
Regulation 557 requires vets to maintain accurate records of rabies vaccinations and educate their clients about the vaccine. Accurate recordkeeping and client education are key in preventing rabies in both animals and humans.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regulation 557, which relates to veterinarians administering rabies vaccines, sets two main expectations: recordkeeping and client education. Vets must keep accurate records of rabies vaccinations given, including the date, the type of vaccine, and the animal's identification. Additionally, they should ensure that pet owners are fully informed about the importance of rabies vaccination and the potential risks associated with the disease. This regulation helps maintain a low incidence of rabies in the pet population, which is of critical importance in the prevention of rabies in humans. Despite this, if a person is bitten by an animal suspected to carry rabies, they must receive post-exposure prophylaxis, which includes immunization with an attenuated vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin to provide both active and passive immunity against the virus.