Indian Vaccine Maker Hits Back At Australia’s ‘Fake Rabies Shot’ Alarm — Demands Urgent Review

An Indian vaccine manufacturer has formally pushed back against an Australian health advisory that warned travellers about the possible circulation of counterfeit rabies vaccines in India, calling the alert misleading and potentially damaging to public trust in life-saving immunisation.The controversy centres on Indian Immunologicals, a state-owned vaccine maker that supplies anti-rabies vaccines to both domestic and international markets. Earlier this month, Australia issued an advisory cautioning travellers and healthcare providers about reports of fake rabies shots allegedly linked to India, urging vigilance while seeking post-exposure treatment.Read more: There’s Now A Type 5 Diabetes And Doctors Say It’s Been Ignored For Decades, Has Unusual

SymptomsIndian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has clarified that the alert appears to be based on an isolated incident involving a counterfeit batch falsely bearing the branding of its rabies vaccine. According to the company, the batch in question was neither manufactured nor distributed by it and was identified as a criminal counterfeit rather than a quality failure within the regulated supply chain. The firm has stated that the fake batch was detected earlier, traced, and is no longer in circulation.

In its response, the manufacturer has requested Australian authorities to review and update the advisory to reflect these facts more precisely. The concern, it says, is that broad wording may inadvertently suggest systemic safety issues with Indian-made rabies vaccines, potentially deterring people from seeking timely treatment for a disease that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.Public health experts note that counterfeit medicines are a global problem, not limited to any one country, and often emerge through unregulated channels rather than licensed hospitals or government immunisation programmes. They warn that fear-driven messaging, if not carefully contextualised, can do more harm than good by delaying post-bite vaccination — a critical window in rabies prevention.

Rabies remains a significant health challenge worldwide, particularly in Asia and Africa, making reliable access to vaccines essential. Indian manufacturers play a key role in global supply, especially for low and middle income countries. Industry observers say that transparent communication between regulators is crucial to maintain confidence without downplaying genuine risks.Read more:Dark Circles May Signal a Serious Underlying Disease: Doctors Warn of a Hidden Condition That Causes BreathlessnessWhile Australia has not withdrawn its advisory, the Indian firm’s request underscores a broader issue: how health warnings should balance caution with clarity. As both sides engage, the episode highlights the need for precise, evidence-based alerts that protect patients without fuelling unnecessary panic.