Recently, the Supreme Court dismissed a writ petition that called for the formation of an independent expert committee to assess the effectiveness of the intradermal Dermal Rabies Vaccines (IDRV) being administered to humans, as well as the Rabies Veterinary Vaccine given to dogs in India.

However, the Court allowed the petitioner the liberty to submit a representation to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, which will review the matter and take appropriate actions as deemed necessary to address the issue of rabies.

The petition, filed by the Kerala Pravasi Association, highlights the deaths of several individuals who succumbed to rabies after being bitten by dogs, despite receiving post-exposure prophylaxis. The plea raises concerns about the treatment protocol and, more critically, the effectiveness of the vaccines.

The plea points out that, according to the National Centre for Disease Control, the manufacturing of the rabies vaccine for humans is a complex process that typically requires three to four months for production and testing. However, the writ petition asserts that there have been instances where the vaccine reached the state within just 14 days of manufacture.

“Non-adherence to the requisite quality checks would be a direct violation of Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India, apart from violations of provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules thereunder,” the plea reads..

The petition also raises concerns about the increasing number of rabies-infected dogs, emphasizing the need for an investigation into the quality of anti-rabies vaccines administered to dogs. The petitioner argues that eliminating the risk of rabies at its source—namely, dogs—is the most effective way to prevent the spread of the disease.

In addition to the establishment of an expert committee, the petitioners requested widespread publicity and the proper, uniform implementation of the National Guidelines for Rabies Prophylaxis, 2019. They also called for the guidelines to be periodically updated in line with the latest developments endorsed by the WHO.