CDSCO Flags Counterfeit Rabies Vaccine Vials (Abhayrab Batch KE25012): How to Verify Genuine QR Codes

An alert has been issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) regarding counterfeit Abhayrab anti-rabies vaccine vials with the batch number KE25012.

The alert has generated fear about the safety of patients and also the presence of fake vaccines in the supply chain of medicines.

This alert has come in light of reports of the presence of counterfeit drugs having the same specifications as those present on Abhayrab vaccine packaging.

What Is the Abhayrab Vaccine Alert About?

Abhayrab is a brand name for anti-rabies vaccines that prevent rabies in case of exposure to an infected animal.

The alleged fake batches are said to be numbered KE25012. CDSCO has advised all concerned parties to be very cautious in their examination of products, rather than merely looking at the batch numbers.

Use of a fake or poor quality rabies vaccine will be hazardous to the user’s health since he or she may fail to get the necessary immunity to the rabies virus infection.

Rabies is a disease that almost always leads to death when clinical signs appear.

How to Verify Genuine Abhayrab QR Codes

When checking the Abhayrab vaccine package, consumers and healthcare practitioners are advised to take note of the following guidelines:

• Scan the QR code: Scan using the recommended technique by the manufacturer.
• Check the product information: Ensure that the displayed information about the product name, manufacturer and batch number corresponds to the packaging.
• Check the batch number: Make sure that the batch number is KE25012.
• Check the packaging: Check for any anomalies in the printing, spellings, packaging seal or labeling.

Report the issue to the manufacturer: In case the QR code fails verification or the information does not correspond to the actual packaging, report to the official manufacturer’s customer service.

QR code is not enough as it may also appear on fake packaging.

What Should Patients Do If They Have Used a Suspected Vial?

Any individual that has been inoculated using vaccine vials suspected of being counterfeit needs to report this to the health practitioner immediately. Individuals should not on their own change the post-exposure treatment plan.

Health practitioners need to evaluate the need for further vaccinations or treatment based on the post-exposure treatment guide for rabies.

The suspected counterfeit vials should be stored properly for investigation purposes.

CDSCO’s Role in Pharmaceutical Safety

CDSCO is responsible for regulating the quality, safety and effectiveness of medicines and vaccines in India. The warnings issued by CDSCO can help state drug control authorities, pharmaceutical firms, and hospitals identify counterfeit drugs.

The Abhayrab warning underscores the significance of pharmaceutical traceability and the use of reliable QR code scanning.

In order to get vaccinated against rabies, one needs to get the vaccine from authorized healthcare centers and make sure all injections come from a reliable source.

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