Kerala government is planning to manufacture its own anti-rabies vaccine at a cost of about Rs 150 crore. This is the first time an Indian state is developing the vaccine directly. The move comes in the wake of an uncontrolled increase in the number of stray dogs and in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram. According to a recent report submitted to the Supreme Court, more than one lakh people in Kerala had been bitten by dogs in 2015-16. The report also said that Kerala is estimated to have a stray dog population of 2.5 lakh, which feed on the waste and garbage dumps across cities and towns.
The vaccine for both humans and animals would be developed simultaneously at separate labs at the Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals (IAH&VB) at Palode under the state Animal Husbandry Department. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Consultancy Service (NABCONS) has been entrusted with preparing the project report of the initiative.
The anti-rabies project is expected to complete the infrastructure facilities and develop the vaccine within 6 months. The state is also planning to sell it at an affordable rate to other states, which lack anti-rabies vaccine.
Shortage of vaccines, delay in distribution, budget issues and complicated purchase procedures were some of the major problems faced by the health and veterinary authorities in getting anti-rabies vaccines.
Once production commences, the vaccine would be distributed through all veterinary hospitals and public health centers across the state. The quantity will be increased according to the demand.
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