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Cold Storage Crisis Leaves Delhi Without Rabies Shots
27 Jun
Summary
- Over 1.27 lakh rabies vaccine vials undelivered due to warehouse storage issues.
- Delhi hospitals face a severe shortage of anti-rabies vaccines.
- Rabies declared a notifiable disease in Delhi in January, aiming for zero deaths.
A critical shortage of rabies vaccines is affecting Delhi's government hospitals, with over 1.27 lakh vials undelivered due to inadequate cold storage at the designated government warehouse. The Serum Institute of India has kept the consignment ready since March 27 but cannot dispatch it to the Janakpuri Central Warehouse, which cited a lack of space. This delay exacerbates the existing scarcity of the life-saving vaccine across the city's public healthcare system.
This situation poses a significant public health concern, particularly as Delhi has seen a surge in dog bite incidents, with 51,773 cases recorded in 2023 and 44,995 by August 2025. In January, the Delhi government declared rabies a notifiable disease to strengthen surveillance and response, aiming for zero human deaths. The anti-rabies vaccine is crucial for post-exposure prophylaxis following animal bites, making its availability vital for preventing the disease.
