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The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization and the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention issued a well being warning late final 12 months in regards to the counterfeit human rabies vaccine Availab, which is accessible in India and has been in circulation since November 1, 2023. The warning was issued after a case of rabies was confirmed in a traveler from India.
What did the CDC flag?
The CDC stated in a journey advisory dated November 25, 2025, that counterfeit Availab vaccines for people are reportedly being distributed in main cities in India (India) and could also be dangerous and don’t shield towards rabies. Australia has argued that vacationers who obtain Availab in India after November 1, 2023 ought to think about their vaccinations invalid and begin a brand new vaccination course.
What did the producer say?
On December 27, 2025, Indian Immunologicals Restricted (IIL), one among India’s main vaccine producers and the producer of Avaylav, introduced that counterfeit batches of its human anti-rabies vaccine, Avaylav, are not available in shops. “The counterfeit incident involving Availab batch quantity KA24014 (manufacturing date: March 2024, expiry date: February 2027) was recognized by early January 2025. The corporate instantly notified Indian regulators and legislation enforcement authorities, lodged a proper grievance and labored intently with the authorities to make sure immediate motion.”
Sunil Tiwari, vice chairman and head of high quality management, IIL, added that each batch of vaccines manufactured in India is examined and launched by the Nationwide Managed Laboratory (Central Pharmaceutical Laboratory), a WHO and Geneva pre-accredited laboratory below the nationwide regulatory authority.
What protocols must be adopted?
If a affected person suspects that they’ve obtained a counterfeit vaccine, the primary step is to seek the advice of their well being care supplier to find out whether or not another dose of a verified, genuine vaccine is required. The principle precept to comply with is to not assume that you’re protected. In keeping with Tushar Tayal, Deputy Director, Inner Drugs, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, “Repeat vaccination of rabies vaccine is permitted and protected. Rabies vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, so it doesn’t comprise stay virus. Due to this fact, it’s protected to be vaccinated repeatedly if crucial. Revaccination is permitted by medical establishments in conditions the place vaccine efficacy or publicity is suspected.”
The medical doctors added that the rabies revaccination process is carried out when the earlier vaccination is taken into account unsure or inadequate. “If a earlier vaccination was obtained from an unknown or suspected supply or was not correctly saved or documented, the particular person is not going to be adequately protected,” Dr. Atayal added.
He defined that after publicity via a chunk or suspected publicity, a sequence of post-exposure precautions are taken. “Revaccination is really helpful each time there’s any query in regards to the high quality, authenticity or adherence to the schedule of the vaccine. Revaccination is really helpful each time there’s any query in regards to the reliability of the vaccine, inappropriate dosing, lack of chilly chain upkeep or lack of documentation,” he stated.
Medical doctors added that it might be prudent for beforehand vaccinated individuals to revaccinate in the event that they doubt their immune standing and face a brand new an infection. If an immunocompromised particular person faces a state of affairs the place their immunity is inadequate, they could should be revaccinated. As this can be a life-threatening illness, re-vaccination is required if there’s any doubt about immunity.
What’s rabies revaccination?
If there isn’t a lively vaccination, the particular person is taken into account not beforehand vaccinated and a whole routine is required. It’s normally administered on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28. In circumstances of extreme publicity, rabies immune globulin must be administered. Nonetheless, when you have been beforehand vaccinated and have correct documentation to that impact, you’ll solely want a booster shot.
How does India rank by way of rabies incidence and management?
The World Well being Group notes that India is endemic for rabies, accounting for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths. The true burden of rabies in India just isn’t absolutely understood. Nonetheless, out there info means that between 18,000 and 20,000 individuals die annually. Roughly 30-60% of rabies circumstances and deaths reported in India happen in kids below 15 years of age, as bites that happen in kids typically go unrecognized and unreported.
Deaths from rabies in people are 100% preventable with immediate and applicable medical care. Vaccination of canines is probably the most cost-effective technique to stop rabies in people.
India has applied the Nationwide Rabies Management Plan and the Nationwide Joint Motion Plan to Get rid of Rabies to attain the aim of eliminating dog-borne rabies by 2030.
WHO and its international companions intention to remove human deaths from dog-borne rabies via a complete One Well being method that features selling mass vaccination of canines, making certain entry to PEP, and chunk prevention via well being employee coaching, elevated surveillance, and neighborhood consciousness.
issued – January 4, 2026 5:26am IST
