Rabies Vaccine Shortage in Nepal Amidst High Demand

Kathmandu. Rabies vaccine (vaccine) is not being supplied across the country as per demand. Due to high demand and low vaccine supply, a vaccine shortage has occurred for the past few days.

Dr. Navin Mahaseth, chief of the District Hospital Dhading, said that he was forced to procure vaccines from the institution as the government did not provide vaccines as per demand. He said, 'There is a shortage of vaccines. As the demand is high, we have to buy vaccines from the institution.'

Narendra Thapa, information officer at the District Hospital Rasuwa, said that although there was a shortage of vaccines for a few months, it has become somewhat easier now. He said, 'There was a shortage around Baishakh. We have 6 vials of vaccine now.'

Officials from the Ministry of Health say that the current shortage is due to an increase in the number of people getting vaccinated compared to the vaccines purchased in this fiscal year.

Patients go to hospitals for rabies vaccine after being bitten by animals such as dogs, monkeys, cats, leopards, tigers, bears, and foxes. The shortage of vaccine supply has caused problems.

Shankar Pandey, OPD In-charge at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, informed that 559 people were vaccinated on Tuesday. Similarly, 548 people were vaccinated on Wednesday.

Pandey informed that 672 people were vaccinated on Thursday. According to the hospital's records section, 55 people have been admitted with rabies disease in the last five years. Doctors say that the mortality rate of rabies disease among those who contract it is 100 percent. In 2022, 4 people, in 2023, 6 people, in 2024, 19 people, and in 2026, 4 people were admitted with rabies disease.

OPD In-charge Pandey said, 'In the past, there was a tendency not to get vaccinated even if bitten by an animal. Now awareness has also increased. That is why the demand for vaccines has increased.'

According to Teku Hospital, 95 percent of people who come for rabies vaccination are bitten by dogs. Similarly, about 2 percent come for vaccination after being bitten by monkeys, and about one percent by cats. About 2 percent reach the hospital after being bitten by other animals.

• Increasing number of vaccine recipients

The number of people reaching hospitals for rabies vaccination has increased in the last three years. According to Teku Hospital, 142,149 doses (quantities) of vaccine were administered in the fiscal year 2080/081. In that year, 63,815 people were vaccinated.

In the fiscal year 2081/082, 160,408 doses (quantities) of vaccine were administered. In that year, 80,379 people were vaccinated.

By the end of Jestha in the fiscal year 2082/083, 177,787 doses (quantities) of vaccine had been administered.

• Four thousand five hundred vials of vaccine coming

According to the Ministry of Health and Food Hygiene, 4,500 vials of rabies vaccine are expected to arrive within a week. Health Minister Nisha Mehta had said in a parliamentary meeting, 'The supply has been delayed because the tender was cancelled twice in the current fiscal year and is being supplied through a third tender. Supply will be smooth as soon as the legal procedures and timelines are completed.'

She stated that there are currently 14,474 vials of rabies vaccine available across the country. She said that arrangements have been made to supply vaccines to federal and provincial hospitals through the supply management center, keeping in mind the need for vaccines. She said, 'To fulfill the immediate shortage, 4,500 vials are coming within a week through the World Health Organization. A multi-year procurement process will be adopted to prevent vaccine shortages in the next fiscal year.'

The Ministry of Health has stated that there are currently 14,474 vials of rabies vaccine available across the country. According to the Management Division under the Department of Health Services, tenders have already been issued for the supply of rabies vaccines worth 169.8 million rupees in the current fiscal year.

Tenders have been issued for the supply of 234,000 vials of 1ml and 190,000 vials of 0.5ml anti-rabies vaccine. Chetan Nidhi Wagle, head of the supply branch under the Management Division, said that there are 11,000 vials of rabies vaccine in stock in the provinces. He said, '180 vials of 1ml and 860 vials of 0.5ml vaccine are in stock at the division. The division is working to make the vaccine easily available.'