Human-Centered Design to Respond to Public Health Crises: Maintaining Canine Rabies Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru

In the early coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, limited understanding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission and fears of infection hindered mass dog vaccination efforts in dog rabies-affected areas. Interruption of dog rabies vaccination campaigns could lead to a rapid increase in the risk of human rabies. To address these challenges, we applied human-centered design (HCD) principles to develop a vaccination strategy that prioritizes safety while ensuring dog rabies vaccination continuity in Arequipa, Peru, a rabies-affected area. We describe the process of rapid prototyping and testing undertaken by our research team to adapt the vaccination process in response to a health crisis. A multidisciplinary team met twice a week to prototype a fixed-point vaccination campaign that ensured distancing and reduction of fomite transmission while allowing for the continuation of dog vaccination. Field notes and videos informed successive meetings. The final prototype was used in rabies hotspots. In 4 weeks, six prototypes of safe booths and supporting safety protocols were designed, and two copies of each prototype were field tested. During testing, additional innovations were identified and implemented, including virtual vaccine certificates and online data collection forms. The final prototype was implemented across 251 sites, and 17,876 dogs were vaccinated. Using HCD principles, we swiftly developed a mass vaccination strategy that provided safety and enabled the maintenance of rabies vaccination programs. This work highlights the importance of innovative and adaptive approaches to address public health challenges in times of crisis.