New Delhi— Hyderabad‑based Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) denied allegations that fake rabies vaccine doses were circulating in India, a claim made by Australian health authorities.
Earlier this week the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation warned that counterfeit batches of IIL’s rabies vaccine “Abhayrab” had been found in India from November 2023 onward. The company, which has produced Abhayrab in India since 2000, said it had no evidence to support the claim. In a press release, IIL “strongly refuted the over‑cautionary and misplaced reference to 2023,” adding that the alert “does not reflect the current situation.”
Vice President and Head of Quality Management at IIL, Sunil Tiwari, assured stakeholders that the firm’s pharmacovigilance and quality systems remain robust and that the public can keep confidence in vaccines supplied directly by IIL through its authorised channels. He noted that more than 210 million doses of Abhayrab have been distributed across India and 40 other countries since 2000, and the product retains a 40 percent share of the Indian market.
Australian authorities warned that people who received counterfeit vaccines might not be fully protected against rabies. They advised those vaccinated with Abhayrab from November 1, 2023 onward to consult their healthcare provider to determine if a replacement dose is necessary.
IIL said that in January 2025 it had identified a packaging anomaly in a single batch (Batch # KA 24014). The company immediately notified Indian regulators and law enforcement, filed a formal complaint, and worked closely with authorities to ensure swift action. Describing the incident as an “isolated incident,” IIL stated that the counterfeit batch was removed from sales.
The drugmaker reaffirmed that every batch of vaccine manufactured in India is tested and released by the Central Drugs Laboratory (Government of India) before distribution. Supplies made through government institutions and authorised distributors remain safe and of standard quality, the company added.
Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease that targets the central nervous system, most commonly transmitted via dog bites. According to the World Health Organization, India experiences roughly 18,000–20,000 rabies deaths each year, with most fatalities following dog bites.
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