CDSCO Flags Counterfeit Abhayrab Rabies Vaccines; Patients Urged to Verify Doses
Public health specialists in Hyderabad have issued an urgent warning to patients who received the Abhayrab rabies vaccine on or after November 7, 2025, urging them to consult healthcare providers following the discovery of counterfeit doses tied to batch number KE25012. Doctors advised that if there is any doubt regarding the authenticity of the vaccine administered, individuals must repeat the dose immediately.
The alert follows an enforcement action by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), which recovered vaccine samples from an unlicensed residential premises in New Delhi. Laboratory analysis of the seized stock established that the samples were misbranded and failed to meet medical standards, leading regulatory authorities to classify them as "Not of Standard Quality" (NSQ).
Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL) confirmed that testing revealed 17 distinct packaging and labelling differences between the seized vials and genuine retention samples. These differences confirmed that the seized products were spurious and were not manufactured by the Human Biologicals Institute, which operates as a division of IIL.
Authorities stated that the authentic batch KE25012 comprised 83,370 legally tested vials released on November 7, 2025, and supplied strictly through authorized distribution channels. Officials clarified that no part of the counterfeit stock entered authorized medical supply chains, confirming that vaccines given at licensed hospitals, clinics, or government health facilities remain safe.
While medical specialists indicated that the likelihood of patients in Telangana receiving a vaccine from the illicit batch is slim, senior doctors urged the public to verify their vaccination details as a precautionary measure. Patients who received an Abhayrab vaccine on or after November 7, 2025, can verify their doses by scanning the QR code on the vial, which should display product details. Officials warned that if no information appears after scanning, the vial is counterfeit.
