Australian authorities warn travellers vaccinated with Abhayrab rabies shots in India since November 2023 may be unprotected against the fatal virus due to counterfeit batches, urging revaccination amid global alerts and rising concerns over fake drugs.
Australian health officials have issued an urgent warning to travellers who received the rabies vaccine Abhayrab in India since 1 November 2023, stating that counterfeit batches may offer no protection against the deadly virus.
The alert, from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and Victoria’s Department of Health, targets those vaccinated in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, following confirmation from manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) of fake products in circulation.
No deaths directly linked to these fakes have been reported yet, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UK Health Security Agency have echoed similar notices after rabies fatalities in returned travellers. Indian health authorities have not issued public statements, though IIL has urged vigilance.
This development highlights risks for over 100,000 annual travellers from Australia to India, emphasising the need for verified vaccinations.
Fake Shots in Circulation: What Makes Them Dangerous
Counterfeit Abhayrab vials closely mimic legitimate ones, using batch numbers like KA24014, but fail under scrutiny-lacking proper active ingredients, showing irregular chemical composition, substandard packaging, and improper labelling.
These fakes often bypass cold-chain storage, rendering them ineffective against rabies, a zoonotic virus transmitted via animal bites or scratches that ravages the central nervous system.
Once symptoms like fever, paralysis, and hydrophobia appear, fatality rates exceed 99%, with death occurring within days.
Dr Evelyn Wong, Acting Chief Health Officer of Victoria, warned: “People who have received Abhayrab, or an unknown rabies vaccine brand, in India from 1 November 2023 onwards are advised to see their healthcare provider to check if replacement doses are needed.”
The World Health Organization estimates 59,000 annual rabies deaths globally, with India accounting for 36%-around 20,000 cases yearly, mostly from dog bites. Travellers face heightened risks in endemic areas, where pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis is standard.
Humanising the threat, a recent US case involved a child who died after a dog bite in India, despite vaccination, prompting the CDC’s “look-back” review. Australian data shows 15,000-20,000 Indians and travellers receive rabies shots there annually, amplifying the alert’s reach.
Background: A Trail of Warnings and Past Incidents
This crisis traces back to early 2025 when IIL first detected anomalies in Abhayrab distribution across Indian pharmacies and clinics. Reports surfaced of vials with suspicious holograms and diluted potency, leading to voluntary recalls.
Globally, it echoes prior scares: in November 2025, the CDC flagged India after a US traveller’s rabies death, marking the first such case in decades. The UK followed suit, advising revaccination for at-risk visitors.
India’s vaccine market, valued at $1.5 billion, grapples with counterfeiting exacerbated by high demand and uneven regulation. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has ramped up raids, seizing fake batches worth millions, yet enforcement lags in private clinics popular with tourists.
Pre-2023, similar issues hit other vaccines like hepatitis, underscoring systemic gaps. Travellers completing full courses abroad or with brands like Verorab remain safe, per ATAGI. No Indian official statements have emerged as of 27 December 2025, but experts call for joint probes with bodies like the WHO to trace supply chains from manufacturers to end-users.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
This counterfeit vaccine scandal exposes deep flaws in global health supply chains, endangering lives and eroding trust in India’s pharmaceutical prowess-a sector vital to millions.
We urge Indian regulators to act decisively with transparent audits, stricter clinic oversight, and public advisories, while fostering international collaboration to shield vulnerable travellers.
Such crises demand empathy for those at risk, from backpackers to aid workers, promoting kindness through accessible, genuine healthcare that upholds harmony and coexistence.
True progress lies in dialogue-driven reforms ensuring no one travels unprotected.
