ATAGI advised people travelling to India to "avoid contact with animals when travelling to countries where rabies occurs".
Published Dec 27, 2025 | 3:50 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 27, 2025 | 3:50 PM
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Synopsis: Australian authorities have warned of counterfeit Abhayrab rabies vaccines circulating in India since November 2023, urging travellers to replace invalid doses with Rabipur or Verorab. Fake batches differ in formulation and packaging, leaving recipients unprotected. Authorities advise consulting healthcare providers, keeping vaccine records, and considering pre-exposure vaccination. Genuine Indian vaccines include Vaxirab-N, RABIVAX-S, Lyssavac, Vaxirab and Indirab.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has issued an urgent warning about counterfeit batches of the rabies vaccine Abhayrab that have been circulating in India since 2023.
According to ATAGI’s statement released on 19 December, the pharmaceutical manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited reported that fake vaccine batches have been distributed across India, with the counterfeit product differing “from the registered vaccine in formulation, packaging, labelling, and manufacturing”.
The health advisory warned that “people who received the fake vaccine may not be fully protected against rabies and are advised to get replacement doses to ensure they are adequately protected”.
However, ATAGI emphasised that “while infection with rabies is fatal, it is important to note that rabies disease after a potential exposure remains very rare among travellers”.
It stated that travellers to India who received rabies vaccination from 1 November 2023 onwards may be affected if they were administered one or more doses of Abhayrab, or if the vaccine brand they received is unknown.
ATAGI stated that “because it is difficult to confirm whether a genuine or fake product was used, any dose of Abhayrab or any dose where the brand is unknown that meets the criteria above should be considered invalid and replaced with a rabies vaccine registered in Australia”.
The advisory urged affected travellers to “consult a healthcare provider, who can help them identify invalid doses and complete a valid course” using either Rabipur or Verorab®, the two rabies vaccines registered in Australia.
Healthcare providers have been instructed to replace invalid doses according to specific protocols. If all doses received are considered invalid, patients should restart the full post-exposure prophylaxis course. If only some doses are invalid, valid doses should be counted and the schedule resumed from the last valid dose.
Valid vaccine doses given in India include Vaxirab-N, RABIVAX-S, Lyssavac, Vaxirab and Indirab. ATAGI noted that “human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) does not need to be replaced”.
ATAGI advised people travelling to India to “avoid contact with animals when travelling to countries where rabies occurs”.
The advisory stated that “anyone who is scratched, bitten or exposed to the saliva of an animal should seek immediate medical care” and, where possible, request a vaccine compatible with Australian-registered rabies vaccines.
Travellers are urged to “be aware of the potential for fake vaccines and keep detailed records of any vaccines received outside of Australia, including dates, product names, and batch numbers”.
The statement also recommended: “Where possible, take a photo of the vaccine packaging and label.”
Health authorities also advised that “people should consider getting pre-exposure rabies vaccination prior to travel. This reduces the number of vaccine doses needed if exposed and simplifies post-exposure prophylaxis.”
According to the Drugs Control Department of the Government of NCT of Delhi, the counterfeit product has been found in markets across Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Lucknow.
In a letter dated 28 March 2025, officials warned that “the counterfeit product exhibits several differences compared to original product and may pose a significant risk to public health and safety and is circulated in market without maintaining required cold chain (2-8°C)”.
People not affected by this alert include those who “completed their full rabies vaccine course in a country other than India, including Australia” or those who “were in India from 1 November 2023 but have evidence that the doses received were a vaccine other than Abhayrab®”.
ATAGI stated it “will continue to review the evidence for fake rabies vaccines circulating overseas, and will update this guidance if required”.
Further information on rabies pre and post-exposure immunisation is available in the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
