The Health Department in Ludhiana district has begun supplying anti-rabies vaccines and rabies immunoglobulin (serum) to all 45 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), eliminating the need for rural residents to travel long distances for post-exposure treatment after dog bites.
Decentralised Vaccine Access
Previously, individuals bitten by dogs were required to visit the District Civil Hospital or community health centres to receive anti-rabies prophylaxis. With the new provision, vaccines and serum are now available at PHCs, significantly improving access for villagers, who previously had to undertake lengthy journeys to access life-saving care.
According to official data, the District Civil Hospital records the highest number of anti-rabies cases, administering vaccines and serum to 50 to 70 people daily. Sub-divisional hospitals treat around 25 to 30 patients each day, while urban community health centres provide anti-rabies vaccines to 15 to 20 individuals daily.
High Burden in Rural Areas
A majority of those seeking treatment come from rural and underdeveloped regions, with children and the elderly accounting for a significant proportion of cases. Civil Hospital records indicate that between 1,100 and 1,400 new patients report for anti-rabies vaccination every month. Dog bite cases typically increase during the summer months.
“Rabies remains a serious public health concern, and immediate vaccination after a dog bite is critical. By decentralising vaccine availability, the department aims to make rabies prevention more accessible and reduce delays in treatment,” a senior Health Department official said.
Understanding the Treatment
Anti-rabies vaccine and anti-rabies serum are both used for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after a potential rabies exposure, but they work in fundamentally different ways. The serum provides immediate, temporary defence, while the vaccine trains the body to fight the virus for the long term.
The initiative is expected to reduce the burden on the District Civil Hospital and ensure timely treatment for dog bite victims in rural areas, potentially saving lives by preventing rabies, which is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
