Kerala: Rabies vaccine spend up 200%, still 67 die

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As debate rages over the effectiveness of anti-rabies serum and intradermal rabies vaccine, the health department recorded over 200% increase in the expenditure for the purchase of rabies vaccine in the past six fiscal years. The usage of rabies serum increased by over 100% and vaccine by 57% in the same period, as per data obtained from the health department.
Kerala spent Rs 51 crore in six fiscal years for rabies vaccine and lost 67 lives due to rabies between 2016 and 2022. As much as 65% of rabies fatalities in 2021 and 2022 did not receive a single dose of vaccine or serum, according to the data.
The expenditure for intra-dermal rabies vaccine increased from Rs 4.16 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 13.82 crore in 2021-22. Between 2019-20 and 2021-22, the quantity of equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG) which was distributed, peaked by 81%.
Officials said anti-rabies serum is recommended as per the revised protocol for post-exposure prophylaxis in case of single or multiple transdermal bites or scratches, licks on broken skin and contamination of mucous membrane with saliva and whenever there is bleeding.
The health department, which has pumped in heavily for vaccine and serum is now grappling with two issues. There were 32 rabies deaths between 2021 and 2022 of which 11 persons who died were either fully or partially vaccinated or were administered with anti-rabies serum.
Figures also point at another matter of concern. The state, which spent Rs 25 crore for vaccine, and used 9 lakh vials of anti-rabies vaccine and nearly 2 lakh vials of anti-rabies serum in two fiscal years also witnessed the death of 21 individuals who had not received either vaccine or serum between 2021 and 2022. The expert committee has been tasked primarily with the mission to identify the possible reasons for rabies death in a few vaccinated individuals to whom the serum was also administered and the missed opportunities to prevent rabies death and strategies to intervene. Public health specialists also stress the need to look at reasons why 21 out of 32 persons who died of rabies failed to take vaccines.
There may be chances that people intend to ignore bites, officials said. Data shows that out of 19 deaths till August 21 in the state, date of animal bite was unknown only in two cases: in the case of a 52-year-old female in Palakkad and a 54-year-old male in Thiruvananthapuram. Except for one case, the type of animal was also identified.