'Fake' Indian Rabies Vaccine Row: Australia, US, UK Raise Alarms

• Australia, US, and UK issued advisories regarding counterfeit batches of India's Abhayrab rabies vaccine circulating since November 2023.
• Concerns state that individuals vaccinated with fake Abhayrab may not be fully protected against the fatal rabies disease.
• The manufacturer, Indian Immunologicals (IIL), called advisories "over-cautionary," stating the specific counterfeit batch (KA24014) was identified by Jan 2025 and is no longer available.
• IIL emphasized that all legitimate batches are tested by the Central Drugs Laboratory and supplies through authorized channels are safe.
• Experts and IIL warn that such advisories could lead to vaccine hesitancy, despite Abhayrab being a reliable vaccine.

Why It Matters: International concerns over 'fake' Indian rabies vaccine spark debate on safety and vaccine hesitancy.