Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) has clarified that a counterfeit batch of its human anti-rabies vaccine, Abhayrab, is no longer available in the market. The statement comes after an advisory issued by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which warned that fake Abhayrab vaccines had been circulating in India since November 1, 2023.
IIL described the advisory as over-cautious and misplaced, stating that the counterfeit batch was identified in January 2025 and immediately reported to Indian regulators and law enforcement agencies. The company said the incident was isolated and assured that vaccines supplied through authorised channels remain safe and quality-tested.
Key Takeaways on the Abhayrab Counterfeit Vaccine Issue
- Indian Immunologicals Limited confirmed that the counterfeit Abhayrab batch is no longer in circulation
- The counterfeit involved Batch No. KA24014, identified in January 2025
- Australia’s ATAGI issued an advisory for travellers vaccinated in India after November 1, 2023
- IIL said it promptly informed regulators and law enforcement agencies
- The company reaffirmed that authorised vaccine supplies remain safe and quality-approved
Australian Advisory Flags Counterfeit Rabies Vaccine
The issue came to public attention after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) issued a health advisory last week, warning that counterfeit rabies vaccines were circulating in India. The advisory stated that fake batches of the Abhayrab vaccine had been in circulation since November 2023.
According to ATAGI, the counterfeit vaccine differed from the registered Abhayrab vaccine in formulation, packaging, labelling, and manufacturing. The advisory warned that individuals who received the fake vaccine might not be fully protected against rabies and advised them to consider their vaccination invalid.
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ATAGI further stated that Australian travellers who had been vaccinated in India after November 1, 2023, with Abhayrab, or whose vaccine brand was unknown, should initiate a new course of rabies vaccination using vaccines registered in Australia.
Guidance for Travellers and Healthcare Providers
The Australian advisory clarified that Abhayrab is not used in Australia and that the alert specifically applies to travellers vaccinated in India. It advised that if it is difficult to confirm whether a genuine or counterfeit vaccine was administered, a rabies vaccine registered in Australia should be given.
For healthcare providers, ATAGI recommended that if a vaccine dose was administered in India, any dose of Abhayrab or doses where the vaccine brand was unknown should be replaced with a valid rabies vaccine registered in Australia, including Rabipur or Verorab.
Indian Immunologicals Responds to the Advisory
Indian Immunologicals Limited, one of India’s leading vaccine manufacturers, issued a clarification dismissing the Australian advisory as over-cautious and misplaced. The company said the reference to vaccines circulating since 2023 did not reflect the current situation.
IIL stated that the counterfeiting incident involved one specific batch of Abhayrab Batch No. KA24014 with a manufacturing date of March 2024 and an expiry date of February 2027. According to the company, a packaging anomaly in this batch was proactively identified by IIL in early January 2025.
The company said it immediately notified Indian regulators and law enforcement agencies, lodged a formal complaint, and worked closely with authorities to ensure swift action. It added that the incident was isolated and that the counterfeit batch is no longer available on the shelves.
Vaccine Safety and Regulatory Oversight
Reassuring healthcare professionals and the public, IIL emphasised that every batch of vaccine manufactured in India is tested and released by the Central Drugs Laboratory, Government of India, before being made available for sale or administration.
The company further stated that the National Control Laboratory (Central Drugs Laboratory) is a WHO-Geneva pre-qualified laboratory under the National Regulatory Authority. According to IIL, this process ensures that vaccines released into the market meet required safety and quality standards.
Sunil Tiwari, Vice-President and Head of Quality Management at Indian Immunologicals Limited, said that supplies made through government institutions and authorised distributors remain safe and of standard quality.
Manufacturing History and Market Presence
In its statement, IIL said it has been manufacturing the Abhayrab vaccine since 2000. Over the years, the company has supplied more than 210 million doses across India and 40 countries.
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The company added that it continues to hold a 40% market share in India’s anti-rabies vaccine segment. It reiterated that Abhayrab is a purified cell culture-based anti-rabies vaccine manufactured in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements, including World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices and relevant pharmacopeial standards.
The vaccine is intended for use in both pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis against rabies and is supplied through government procurement channels as well as the private healthcare sector.
Rabies Risk and Importance of Vaccination
According to the World Health Organization, rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease that affects the central nervous system. In up to 99% of human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for virus transmission through bites and scratches.
Children between the ages of five and fourteen years are the usual victims. Once clinical symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal. However, immediate medical care after exposure, including wound cleansing, rabies immunoglobulin, and a series of vaccine doses, is highly effective in preventing the disease.
Certain high-risk groups, including veterinarians, laboratory workers, and travellers to rabies-endemic regions, may also receive pre-exposure prophylaxis.
Other International Health Warnings
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued health warnings for India and Haiti after travellers from these countries were diagnosed with rabies. The CDC advised travellers to avoid contact with dogs, cats, and wild mammals in both countries.
Regulatory Action and Public Reassurance
Indian Immunologicals Limited said it has written to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to clarify the situation. The company reiterated that its pharmacovigilance and quality systems are robust and that the public can continue to place confidence in vaccines supplied directly by IIL and its authorised channels.
Ensuring Vaccine Confidence and Public Health Safety
The clarification from Indian Immunologicals comes amid heightened international attention on vaccine safety and cross-border travel health advisories. While the Australian advisory prompted caution among travellers and healthcare providers, Indian authorities and the manufacturer have maintained that the counterfeit issue was isolated, promptly addressed, and no longer poses a risk to the public. The episode underscores the importance of regulatory vigilance, transparent communication, and reliance on authorised healthcare channels to ensure public health safety.
Ethics, Awareness and Responsible Care
Public health issues such as vaccine safety underline the broader importance of ethical responsibility, awareness, and disciplined conduct in society. Spiritual perspectives often emphasise that human well-being depends not only on scientific systems but also on conscious responsibility, transparency, and adherence to righteous practices.
Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj consistently highlights that true social stability comes from correct knowledge, ethical action, and respect for established systems meant to protect life. Such guidance reinforces the value of vigilance, accountability, and informed decision-making, especially in matters directly linked to human health and safety, while maintaining balance between material awareness and inner responsibility.
FAQs on Counterfeit Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine Advisory
1. What did the Australian advisory warn about?
It warned that counterfeit Abhayrab rabies vaccines had circulated in India since November 2023.
2. Which batch was identified as counterfeit?
Batch No. KA24014, identified by Indian Immunologicals in January 2025.
3. Is the counterfeit vaccine still available?
No. Indian Immunologicals said the counterfeit batch is no longer in circulation.
4. Who issued the advisory?
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).
5. Are authorised Abhayrab vaccines safe?
Yes. IIL said vaccines from authorised channels remain safe and quality-tested.
