The cases of human rabies deaths in the State despite the victims taking anti-rabies vaccine have triggered a major debate over the efficacy of the vaccine.
Public health experts, however, point out that while an annual quality check of the biologicals (vaccine and serum) is necessary, there are several weak links in the system, all of which will need to be studied to evaluate why the five cases of human rabies deaths occurred in the State despite vaccination.
Health Minister Veena George said in the Assembly last week that of the 20 human rabies deaths (As on Aug 28) that occurred in the State, 15 persons had not taken the anti-rabies vaccine. Only four persons had been fully vaccinated as per the rabies vaccination regimen and one had only been partially vaccinated.
