Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 26: Australia has issued a health advisory warning that counterfeit batches of a rabies vaccine have been circulating in India since November 2023, raising serious concerns over public safety in a country that bears one of the world’s highest rabies burdens.
The alert, issued by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), cautioned that people vaccinated with the affected brand, Abhayrab, may not be fully protected against rabies, a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
According to ATAGI, the suspected counterfeit vaccines may not contain the required amount of active ingredient, or any at all. This could result in individuals believing they are protected despite having received ineffective doses, even if they followed the recommended vaccination protocol, including the use of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) in high-risk cases.
As Abhayrab is not used in Australia, the advisory is primarily aimed at travellers who received rabies vaccinations in India after November 2023. Australian authorities have advised such individuals to consider those doses potentially invalid and to seek replacement vaccinations using registered products such as Rabipur or Verorab.
The warning has renewed focus on rabies prevention in India, where dog-bite cases continue to rise. According to the World Health Organization, India records an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 rabies deaths annually, translating to nearly one death every 30 minutes. Rabies has no reliable cure once symptoms develop, making timely and correct post-exposure treatment critical.
A recent rabies death of a six-year-old girl in Thane has further highlighted gaps in prevention. The child reportedly died despite receiving four doses of vaccine. While investigations are ongoing, conflicting accounts have emerged, with one medical expert suggesting rabies immunoglobulin may not have been administered, while civic health officials claimed it was.
The case underscores that rabies prevention depends not just on vaccination, but on the right vaccine, proper timing, correct storage, wound care, and the use of immunoglobulin when required. Any lapse in this chain can prove fatal.
ATAGI has advised people vaccinated in India to retain their vaccination records. Those who received Abhayrab after November 2023, or are unsure of the vaccine brand used, are urged to consult a healthcare provider. Doctors may recommend repeat doses with verified rabies vaccines.
People vaccinated outside India, or those with clear documentation showing the use of recognised rabies vaccines, are not affected by the advisory.