Anti-rabies vaccine stock to run out in days, hosps on alert

Bhopal: City is facing an emerging public health concern as stocks of life-saving anti-rabies vaccines at JP Hospital are expected to run out within the next two weeks, raising alarm among doctors and health officials amid a steady rise in dog bite cases.Current supplies at the hospital stand at 748 vials of anti-rabies vaccine and 49 doses of equine rabies immunoglobulin, along with 36 additional vaccine vials. However, the monthly requirement is nearly 2,500 vials, making the existing stock sufficient for only about 10–12 days at present patient load. The Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) office has an even smaller buffer, with just six vials of vaccine and 63 doses of immunoglobulin in stock.The shortage comes at a time when Bhopal records an estimated 20,000 dog bite cases annually, with nearly 30 to 50 per cent of patients treated at JP Hospital alone. Doctors warn that a delay in replenishment could force patients to purchase vaccines from private pharmacies, increasing out-of-pocket expenses and delaying critical treatment in a disease where timely vaccination is essential."We are trying to manage with the available doses, but demand is far higher than supply," said a senior doctor at JP Hospital, requesting anonymity. "If new stocks are not supplied soon, we may be heading towards a serious public health situation."Officials from the CMHO office and the district civil surgeon have not yet responded to queries regarding the shortage.Despite the Bhopal Municipal Corporation expanding its Rabies-Free City programme and doubling sterilisation centres over the past three years, progress has been limited. Official data shows that up to Feb 28, 2026, the civic body carried out 23,363 dog sterilisation procedures and 29,766 anti-rabies vaccinations, with an expenditure of about Rs 25.7 lakh. However, experts say the city needs around 60,000 sterilisation surgeries annually to significantly reduce the stray dog population.This year alone, around 4,000 dog bite cases have already been reported, highlighting the persistent risk. Health experts say the situation underscores weaknesses in vaccine supply chains and the urgent need for stronger coordination between health authorities and civic bodies to prevent a deeper crisis.