The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Health Department has supplied 1,800 vials of anti-rabies vaccine to Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital to address a critical shortage that has persisted for several weeks. The hospital had formally requested an emergency allocation of the vaccine as it faced dwindling stocks amid rising demand.

Each vial contains two doses, amounting to approximately 3,600 doses in total. This quantity is sufficient to provide a single dose to around 3,600 individuals or complete the standard four-dose vaccination schedule for about 900 patients. KMC officials indicated that while this shipment offers temporary relief, it does not resolve the ongoing shortage.

The shortage has been widely reported, with appeals from Teku hospital and other health institutions to provincial government bodies for additional vaccine supplies. Dog bites remain a significant public health concern in Nepal, with hundreds of victims seeking vaccination daily. On Sunday alone, more than 350 people received the anti-rabies vaccine by midday, with expectations that the number would exceed 600 by the end of the day.

Rabies specialists emphasize the importance of timely vaccination, noting that the disease is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms develop. Prevention relies on immediate post-exposure prophylaxis, typically administered through a four-dose course of the vaccine.

Health authorities have acknowledged ongoing efforts to procure more vaccines. The Epidemiology and Disease Control Division has initiated the procurement process, though supplier selection remains pending, delaying vaccine distribution. Officials report that newly acquired supplies could take several weeks to arrive. In the interim, the World Health Organization has contributed 4,500 doses following a government request, supplemented by additional allocations from KMC and the Lumbini and Bagmati provincial governments.

Despite these efforts, a significant nationwide shortage persists due to delays in government procurement. The Ministry of Health and Food Safety has yet to acquire new vaccine doses in the current fiscal year, which concludes in mid-July. As a result, public health facilities across Nepal have experienced stockouts for months, compelling many dog bite victims to bear the cost of vaccination at private pharmacies or travel considerable distances, including to Kathmandu, for treatment.

Experts warn that interruptions in vaccine availability could increase rabies-related fatalities, especially among low-income populations at heightened risk from stray dog bites. Nepal records approximately 60,000 dog bite cases annually at state-run clinics, with thousands more treated privately. An estimated 100 deaths from rabies occur each year nationwide.

Rabies, a viral infection transmitted primarily through the saliva of infected animals such as dogs and jackals, remains a persistent threat in Nepal. The country aims to eliminate dog-mediated rabies by 2030, aligning with the World Health Organization’s global target. However, government data indicate a steady rise in dog bite incidents, underscoring challenges in achieving this goal. Globally, rabies causes an estimated 59,000 deaths annually, predominantly affecting children and impoverished communities.