On Monday, the Top Court ordered the municipal authorities to pick up and accommodate all stray dogs in Dill and part of the capital (NCR) by eight weeks. This has led to extensive outrage between groups of citizens and animal advocates who are afraid that the order can set a precedent for other cities and cities. On Thursday, the Supreme Court reserved its order for a lawsuit looking for an interim stay at the order of August 11.
Certainly, India has one of the highest burden on the death of rabies around the world, and the primary cause is the bite of dogs. According to a study by Lancet’s study 2024 in India, 5,700 people die of rabies mediated by a dog annually. There is still a national plan to remove rabies caused by the bite of dogs, but the country has significantly achieved in reducing cases.
In the middle of the ongoing controversy, the mint looks at the Indian rabies vaccine and examines how access is created.
Plan
In accordance with the WHO challenge in 2015, the Indian government announced the National Action Plan for elimination of rabies (Pome) in 2021 to remove rabies.
As part of the country, the state has issued a set of instructions for states and stakeholders to develop their own action plans, and aims to reduce the risk of rabies through permanent vaccination of mass dogs, prophylaxis before and after expositions and public education.
Rise and decline in cases
According to fishing, press releases that the animal had been walking and dairy, dated 1 April 2025, cases of bite of dogs and deaths across the country have increased from 2022 to 2024.
In 2022, the country reported almost 2.2 million cases. In 2023 this increased to 3.05 million, in 2024 to 3.7 million. In January 2025 there were more than 400,000 cases of dog bite.
According to the release, human deaths increased from rabies from 21 in 2022 to 50 in 2023 and 54 in 2024. In January 2025, one case of death was reported.
It is important to realize that many cases of dog bites are not announced because of lack of consciousness and because people often do not cover in time.
A recent study supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and published in Lancet noted that India has taken significant steps to reduce rabies related deaths.
Over the past two decades, India has witnessed a 75% decrease in the death of human rabies mediated by a dog, probably due to the increased availability of the ARV and trains in healthcare facilities, a study, which conducted 534 healthcare facilities in 60 districts in 15 countries.
Is there a lack of vaccines?
According to the Lancet study, most public health facilities in India maintained reserves of vaccines against rabbins. They were found in 80% of the equipment and 90% of secondary and tertiary care centers. Meanwhile, 95% of district hospitals and 92% of medical faculties had.
However, there is no availability of rabies immunoglobulins. Four of the five devices interviewed lacked immunoglobulin supplies. The biggest deficiency was at primary care, where more than 94% of the equipment lacked supplies.
Immunoglobulins are administered around the wound to neutralize the virus, especially in the case of serious bite. This is followed by a series of 4-5 shots against rabies for 28 days. The course of treatment is decided on the basis of the severity of the wound and the condition of the animal.
Immunoglobulins are critical in arresting the spread of the virus and preventing death.
Reports of shortage in states and cities persist. At the beginning of this month, the Times of India announced a lack of vaccines in BMC-Run hospitals in Mumbai. Chennai reported a shortage in June 2025.
There is no shortage in the vaccine offer, the National Disease Control Center (NCDC) said Mint about the state of anonymity. However, since it is a decentralized system of public procurement, where states are assigned to states and provides vaccines themselves, there may be problems.
In the event of a disproportionate increase in cases of animal bite cases, there may be problems with appropriate prediction and storage at state level, the clerk said.
The central government has released £68.86 Crore in the awarding of vaccine contracts to States in FY21. In FY22, £62.33 crore, £98.75 crore in FY23 and £99,77 Crore in FY24, according to the written answer Rajya Sabha in December 2023 of the Ministry of Health and Social Security.
Who makes these vaccines?
India is one of the largest rabies vaccine manufacturers around the world and most of the country’s needs will satisfy indigenous products. Geographically, the offer is 85% concentrated in China and India, a Global WHO Study on Vaccines Against rabies since 2020.
Currently, there are ten manufacturers of anti-rabs of vaccines in the country. According to Pharma Intelligence Pharmarack, Rabivax by Rabivax by the serum institute in India (SII), Abhayrab from Indian immunological substances and chirorab by Bharat Biotech are the most important brands. Other players include Sun Pharma, Human Pharmacy and Zydus Cadila.
In India, however, they produce only four immunoglobulins – two humanity and two Indian immunological and serum institutes that have a negligible market share. There are two types of immunoglobulin immunoglobulins (platforms) that are originally produced and human sets that are imported.
According to studies, human sets are considered safer and more efficient, especially in children.
The total market for rabies vaccines in India was £266 CRORE in July 2025 on the overall annual basis, according to Pharmarack, the platform of electronic trading B2B. That £240 crore was for ARV and £25 crore for immunoglobulins.
Since July 2025, a total of 7 593 units of ARV and RIG were sold. The number of units sold per month remained between 2023 and the current date, with a slight increase in recent months, showed the data.
Costs also remain a problem in accessing rabies vaccines. Although they are provided free of charge in public facilities, the cost per vial of ARV is usually among £350 and £400 in private hospitals.
According to WHO, the cost of prophylaxis after exposure (PEP), the regime of the human set and ARV served after the highest bites in Asia.
(Tagstotranslate) rabies in India
