Fighting Rabies, One Vaccine at a Time: How Veterinarian Ben Waites is Changing the World with Mission Rabies

For veterinarian Ben Waites, the mission to eliminate rabies isn’t just a job — it’s personal. His journey began thousands of miles from where he works today, in a childhood surrounded by free-roaming dogs and the ever-present fear of a deadly virus.

“I grew up in Ethiopia, and our house was always surrounded by stray dogs,” Ben recalls. “I wanted to befriend them all, but my parents wouldn’t let me because of the risk of rabies. That’s when I decided I wanted to become a vet.”

That childhood promise led Ben on a path through veterinary school, international fieldwork, and eventually to Mission Rabies, a global initiative determined to eliminate one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases. Today, he’s based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, coordinating rabies elimination projects across Southeast Asia and beyond.

A Life-Changing Project in Laos

For Ben, one of the defining moments in his career came during Mission Rabies’ first-ever project in Lao PDR (Laos) — a massive pilot vaccination campaign that reached over 21,000 dogs in just five days.

“It was the first vaccination project I led,” he says. “We trained local veterinary workers and partnered with the Veterinary Division and the National University of Laos to build a foundation for long-term sustainability.”

The success of that project proved that large-scale vaccination is possible, even in remote and resource-limited regions. The team also helped develop Laos’ national strategic plan for rabies elimination, setting a goal of achieving rabies-free status by 2030.

“It made me even more passionate about this work,” Ben says. “We’re not just saving lives — we’re empowering local vets and communities to sustain those efforts long-term.”

Life in the Field

Days on the ground with Mission Rabies start early — before the tropical heat sets in.

“By 6:30 a.m., we’re at the vaccination hub loading coolers, vaccines, and supplies,” Ben explains. “Teams head out by tuk-tuk or car to villages, sometimes in dense cities, sometimes up in mountain regions. You never know where you’ll end up.”

Once in the field, the team works hand-in-hand with local communities, vaccinating owned and free-roaming dogs and marking each one to avoid duplicates. The goal is to reach 70% coverage, a critical threshold for stopping transmission.

“My favorite part is meeting communities and hearing how rabies has affected them,” he says. “It reminds you why this work matters.”

After long, hot days, the data — including GPS points and vaccination routes — is uploaded to the WVS App, which maps progress and helps teams adjust strategy in real-time.

Grit, Coconut Water, and Teamwork

Fieldwork in tropical climates isn’t for the faint-hearted. “Electrolyte sachets and fresh coconuts are lifesavers,” Ben laughs. “And I never travel without toilet paper and a power bank.”

He admits that staying centered is key to avoiding burnout. “Yoga, journaling, and meditation help me reset after long days. And honestly, just talking with teammates — sharing stories, laughing — helps keep us grounded.”

Unexpected challenges are part of the job, from tropical storms to flat tires, language barriers, and even local skepticism about vaccines. “In some places, people worry the vaccine will harm their dogs,” he explains. “So we take time to build trust and explain the science. Community engagement is everything.”

Rabies: A Disease of Inequality

Rabies kills tens of thousands of people every year, most of them in low-income countries. Yet it’s entirely preventable.

“The barriers to eradication are complex,” Ben says. “Many rural communities don’t know that dog bites can transmit rabies. Access to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can be limited and expensive. It’s a disease of inequality.”

Mass dog vaccination — reaching that 70% target — is the most cost-effective way to break the cycle. But achieving it requires large-scale coordination, resources, and trained veterinary professionals.

“That’s why we focus on capacity-building,” Ben explains. “We train local vets to vaccinate their own communities and pass those skills on. It’s sustainable change.”

Measuring Success

Mission Rabies uses data-driven strategies like Integrated Bite Case Management (IBCM) to track cases and measure impact.

One of the organization’s biggest success stories is Goa, India, where human rabies deaths dropped from 17 in 2013 to zero by 2017 — and the state was declared rabies-free in 2021.

“It proves what’s possible when vaccination, education, and community partnerships come together,” Ben says.

Hope for the Future

Looking ahead, Ben is optimistic. New tools, from GPS mapping and translation technology to oral rabies vaccines, are making eradication more achievable than ever.

“Empowering local vets is the future,” he says. “Our job is to give them the tools, training, and support to eliminate rabies in their own regions.”

For those hoping to make a global impact, Ben’s advice is simple: start small, think sustainably, and don’t underestimate the value of volunteering.

“Even one dog vaccinated means one more life protected,” he says. “And when you scale that up across communities and countries — that’s how you change the world.”