Australia issues alert on fake Rabies vaccine in India, urges travellers to get revaccinated

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Australian health authorities warn travellers vaccinated in India since Nov 2023 may have received fake Abhayrab rabies vaccines, which offer no protection. Those affected should seek medical advice and get revaccinated with approved Australian vaccines.

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Australian health authorities have issued an urgent warning after confirming that counterfeit batches of the rabies vaccine Abhayrab have been circulating in India, raising fears that people vaccinated there may have received no real protection against the deadly virus.

The alert was issued by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation along with state health departments. Authorities said travellers who were vaccinated in India from November 1, 2023, onwards could be at serious risk because the fake vaccines may be ineffective.

The problem first came to light in early 2025 when the vaccine’s manufacturer, Indian Immunologicals Limited, detected counterfeit products in the market. Investigators found that fake vials were using genuine batch numbers, including Batch No. KA24014, making them difficult to identify. While genuine Abhayrab is a World Health Organization prequalified vaccine, the counterfeit versions showed major differences in chemical composition, packaging and labelling.

Health authorities have so far identified fake Abhayrab vials in cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, though they warned the actual spread could be much wider. Because patients and even clinicians cannot reliably tell a real vial from a fake one, Australian officials said any Abhayrab dose given in India during the risk period should be treated as invalid.

Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, as it attacks the central nervous system. Experts warned that the counterfeit vaccine may not contain the active antigen or may have been stored incorrectly, leading to complete treatment failure after an animal bite.

Australian health officials have advised anyone who received rabies vaccination in India since November 1, 2023, and who was given Abhayrab or is unsure of the vaccine brand, to seek medical advice immediately. Such individuals are being advised to receive replacement doses using vaccines approved in Australia, including Rabipur or Verorab.

The warning also urges extra caution for those travelling to India. Officials said completing rabies vaccination before travel provides better protection and simplifies treatment if exposure occurs. Travellers are also advised to avoid contact with stray dogs, monkeys and other mammals, which remain the main source of rabies transmission.

This alert follows similar investigations by health authorities in the United Kingdom and the United States earlier this year, after a rabies death was linked to a traveller who had received treatment in India.