Rabies infection despite vaccination

The situation in Kerala is such that the number of stray dogs is increasing at a rapid pace and the number of deaths due to rabies is scaring the people. What is even more worrying is that even those who have taken the anti-rabies vaccine are getting rabies. The latest incident was when a seven-year-old girl in Kollam was confirmed to have rabies despite having taken three doses of the vaccine. This child, who was undergoing treatment at SAT Hospital, lost her life. On Friday night, the PG doctor prescribed for the child a medicine that was discontinued. The child's relatives were visiting medical stores until Saturday morning to get this medicine. The hospital authorities intervened in the matter and found out that the medicine was not available in the market when the relatives finally approached the media and sought help.

It was a serious mistake on the part of the hospital authorities to hand over such a serious matter to junior doctors, which should have been handled by senior doctors. Later, the child was given free medicine from the hospital's in-house drug bank, but the child's life could not be saved. The heartbreaking words that Habira, the mother of Niya Faisal, who died of rabies, spoke to the media were enough to bring tears to anyone's eyes. The authorities should take the issues she pointed out seriously. She had told everyone many times not to dump garbage near the house, but no one listened. The child was attacked by dogs that came to eat this waste. Although she had filed a complaint against dumping waste near the house, the authorities concerned did not take any action.

This is not the first time in Kerala that people who have been vaccinated still getting rabies. Two girls have died in the same situation in the last one month alone. Thirteen-year-old Bhagyalakshmi, a native of Pullad, Pathanamthitta, died on April 9, and six-year-old Ziya Faris, a native of Thenjipalam, Malappuram, died on April 29. According to the official figures of the Health Department, 22 people have died of rabies since 2021 despite taking the vaccine. If this vaccine is useless, what is the use of administering it again? Will the government be ready to withdraw this vaccine? Will it investigate the quality of the vaccine? Many such questions are arising in the minds of the people.

The vaccine committee, which includes technical experts who coordinate the distribution of vaccines in the state, should hold an urgent meeting and explain these matters. If the vaccination from the government hospital is found to be ineffective, people will be forced to rely on private hospitals. The price of the rabies vaccine in private hospitals is high and the common people cannot afford it. The defects in the storage of the vaccine in government hospitals can also lead to danger. Similarly, all possible steps should be taken by the government to control stray dogs immediately.