{"id":80385,"date":"2025-12-30T12:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-30T06:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=80385"},"modified":"2025-12-30T12:07:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T06:37:00","slug":"alleged-fake-rabies-vaccines-a-test-for-indias-health-governance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/alleged-fake-rabies-vaccines-a-test-for-indias-health-governance\/","title":{"rendered":"Alleged Fake Rabies Vaccines: A Test for India\u2019s Health Governance"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Fake Rabies Vaccine Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health authorities in Australia have advised citizens vaccinated for rabies in India to check whether they require replacement doses, following concerns about <\/span><b>counterfeit rabies vaccines<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Similar advisories have been issued by the United Kingdom and the United States.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This episode highlights critical issues of drug supply chain integrity, regulatory enforcement, and public confidence in vaccines\u2014especially significant for India, which bears a high rabies burden and plays a key role in global vaccine supply.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Rabies: Transmission and Prevention<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rabies is a <\/span><b>viral infection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> transmitted through the saliva of infected animals.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Human infection can occur through bites, scratches, or saliva contact with open wounds, commonly involving dogs, cats, monkeys, and bats.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Symptoms r<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ange from fever, headache, and nausea to excessive salivation, hydrophobia (fear of water), hallucinations, and partial paralysis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Importantly, rabies is <\/span><b>preventable<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through timely post-exposure vaccination, which is why prompt medical treatment after animal exposure is essential.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>India\u2019s Rabies Burden<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to India\u2019s National Rabies Control Programme, 6,644 clinically suspected human rabies cases and deaths were reported between 2012 and 2022, though this is believed to be an under-estimate.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Health Organisation estimates 18,000\u201320,000 rabies deaths annually worldwide, with one-third to two-thirds occurring in children under 15 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>India <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alone accounts for nearly <\/span><b>36% of global rabies deaths<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, highlighting the public health significance of vaccine safety and regulatory oversight.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Background: Concerns Over Abhayrab Vaccine<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health authorities in Australia, the UK, and the US have issued advisories urging citizens who received rabies vaccinations in India to verify whether they require replacement doses.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The alerts point to possible circulation of counterfeit rabies vaccines in India since 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The advisories stem from concerns that <\/span><b>fake batches of Abhayrab<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a rabies vaccine manufactured by the <\/span><b>Human Biologicals Institute<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (a key division of PSU Indian Immunologicals), may be in circulation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The issue has triggered international alarm because rabies is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear, making vaccine efficacy critical.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Company\u2019s Response and Identification of Counterfeit Batch<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) stated that in January 2025, it detected one counterfeit batch (#KA24014) with altered packaging.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company informed Indian regulators and law enforcement immediately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It maintains that no other counterfeit batches have been found.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Nature of the Counterfeit: Packaging Diversion, Not Fake Vaccine<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investigations revealed that:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Counterfeit products were detected in Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, and Patna.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raids were conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, and Agra.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tests conducted at the Central Drug Testing Laboratory, Kasauli, found the seized vaccines to contain the genuine product.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts clarified that the issue involved <\/span><b>tampered outer packaging<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allegedly used to divert government-supplied vaccines into the open market, rather than fake or substandard vaccine contents.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Why Abhayrab Is Central to the Concern<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abhayrab is among the most widely used rabies vaccines in India, holding around <\/span><b>40% market share<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IIL is the largest rabies vaccine producer globally, supplying vaccines for over 25 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Company officials warned that international advisories could fuel vaccine hesitancy, particularly in rural areas where Abhayrab may be the only available option.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Expert Reassurance on Public Health Impact<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts in India sought to allay fears:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In India, patients usually receive five doses of rabies vaccine after an animal bite.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if one dose were ineffective, protection is likely ensured through remaining doses and rabies immunoglobulin.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>WHO-Recommended Vaccination Protocol<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per World Health Organisation guidelines:<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unimmunised persons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: At least three intramuscular doses or Two intradermal doses, plus immunoglobulin on day zero.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Previously immunised persons<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Only two booster doses are required.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Recent Rabies Cases and Vaccine Failure Concerns<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Kerala, a spike in rabies deaths was reported in 2022, raising public concern as several deceased individuals had reportedly received rabies vaccines.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This led to suspicions of vaccine failure or ineffective vaccines.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Findings of the Union Health Ministry Committee<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A committee constituted by the Union Health Ministry investigated the cases and ruled out vaccine failure as the primary cause.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It concluded that deaths occurred due to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improper wound washing after animal bites<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-administration of rabies immunoglobulin in Category 3 bites<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Category 3 bites include multiple bites or scratches breaking the skin, or situations where broken skin is licked by an animal, which carry the highest risk of infection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee highlighted <\/span><b>limited availability<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of rabies immunoglobulin and vaccines as a major systemic challenge, which compromised timely and complete post-exposure prophylaxis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-health\/countries-concern-about-fake-rabies-vaccine-case-10443477\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndtv.com\/health\/fake-rabies-vaccine-advisory-explained-what-australia-warned-what-india-clarified-10028840\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NDTV<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/explainers\/fake-indian-rabies-vaccine-row-australia-abhayrab-iil-allegations-13963649.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">FP<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>International alerts over alleged fake rabies vaccines in India raise concerns on drug regulation, supply chain integrity, vaccine hesitancy, and public health governance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":80400,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[4493,60,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-80385","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-fake-rabies-vaccine","9":"tag-mains-articles","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80385","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80385"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80385\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80400"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80385"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80385"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80385"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}