Counterfeit rabies vaccines seized in Delhi flat; fail safety tests

Regulatory authorities in Delhi have confiscated a consignment of Abhayrab rabies vaccine vials from an unlicensed flat, raising serious concerns about the circulation of substandard immunisation products in the capital. Initial investigations indicate the vaccines were being stored and distributed from unauthorized premises without proper licensing or oversight.

Samples drawn from the seized batch underwent laboratory analysis and failed critical potency tests designed to ensure vaccine efficacy. The vials also displayed marked physical and compositional differences when compared against verified authentic Abhayrab stock, strengthening suspicions of counterfeit production or tampering.

The discovery has prompted health regulators to issue an alert across Delhi's medical and pharmaceutical networks. Authorities are investigating the supply chain to determine how long the compromised vaccines remained in circulation and which healthcare facilities or private practitioners may have administered them to patients.

Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis through vaccination is critical for preventing the disease after potential exposure, as rabies is nearly 100 percent fatal once symptoms manifest. The seizure underscores growing concerns about counterfeit and substandard pharmaceuticals entering India's medical supply chain, particularly through informal distribution networks operating outside regulatory frameworks.