Explainer · Updated October 2026
Can you get a rabies shot near you? What the data shows on anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin across India
Anti-rabies vaccine is free at government facilities across India, but an ICMR survey of 467 public facilities found it in stock at only 79.7% of them. Rabies immunoglobulin, needed for deep bites, was available at 20.3%. Availability ranged from 93.2% in southern states to 60% in the north-east.
Key findings
- An ICMR survey of 534 facilities in 15 states found anti-rabies vaccine at 372 of 467 public facilities, or 79.7%.
- Rabies immunoglobulin was available at only 20.3% of public facilities, and at 1.8% of urban primary health centres.
- ARV availability ranged from 93.2% of public facilities in the south zone to 60% in the north-eastern states.
- One in four public facilities with vaccine (25.8%) had run out completely at least once in the previous year.
- In the community survey, 20.5% of dog bite victims got no vaccine at all, and 49.1% of those who started did not finish.
- India has installed capacity for about 8.17 crore ARV vials and 1.77 crore RIG vials a year, the Health Minister told the Rajya Sabha in March 2026.
- Only 7 states had launched a State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination by July 2026, and the rabies helpline 15400 served 5 states.
- The Centre does not hold state-wise data on vaccine stock or on how many people got vaccinated, it told the Lok Sabha in July 2026.
Is the rabies vaccine free in India?
Yes, at government facilities. Anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) are provided free in public health facilities under the National Free Drug Initiative of the National Health Mission. Both are on the national and state essential drug lists.
That has not always been funded centrally. In November 2019 the health ministry told the Lok Sabha that funds under the National Rabies Control Programme did not cover vaccine purchase. States were asked to buy ARV through the free drugs scheme instead.
Procurement is still decentralised. Each state buys its own vaccine and immunoglobulin, usually through a state medical supplies corporation. In the ICMR facility survey, 96.5% of public facilities got their ARV through a centralised state purchase.
| Measure | Figure | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed ARV production capacity | 8.17 crore vials a year | Mar 2026 | Rajya Sabha reply, via ETV Bharat |
| Installed RIG production capacity | 1.77 crore vials a year | Mar 2026 | Rajya Sabha reply, via ETV Bharat |
| ARV vials procured by 36 states and UTs | 1.33 crore | 2024 | Lok Sabha reply, via The Week |
| ARV vials used by states and UTs | 1.26 crore | 2024 | Lok Sabha reply, via The Week |
| Anti-rabies shots for dog bite cases | 46,54,398 | 2023 | Lok Sabha reply, via Business Standard |
| ARV exports | 2,81,139 kg | 2024-25 | DGCI&S, cited in Rajya Sabha reply |
| RIG exports | 64,131 kg | 2024-25 | DGCI&S, cited in Rajya Sabha reply |
Supply has not always been smooth. The 2019 reply said manufacturers had skipped domestic tenders to export at higher prices. The Drugs Controller General was asked to collect monthly production and supply data from every maker.
Access by region
Southern states have the best access. The ICMR-NIE facility survey, published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia in June 2025, found ARV at 93.2% of public facilities in the south zone. The north-east had the lowest, at 60%.
The survey covered 534 facilities in 60 districts of 15 states in 2022 and 2023. Field teams checked stock with their own eyes rather than taking staff's word. A facility counted as having ARV only if at least one vial was physically present.
Source: Krishna et al, Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia 2025 (ICMR-NIE). Survey 2022-23, 467 public facilities.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| South | 93.2% |
| West | 89.5% |
| East | 81.4% |
| North | 76.0% |
| North-east | 60.0% |
| All India (public) | 79.7% |
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| Zone | Facilities with ARV | Facilities surveyed | Share with ARV (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | 82 | 88 | 93.2 |
| West | 77 | 86 | 89.5 |
| East | 83 | 102 | 81.4 |
| North | 73 | 96 | 76.0 |
| North-east | 57 | 95 | 60.0 |
| All public | 372 | 467 | 79.7 |
The survey reports zones, not states. It picked three states at random from each of five zones, so its zone figures are the closest thing to regional data that has been published.
The dose-saving intradermal method shows the same split. Over 70% of facilities in the north, south and west used it, against under 40% in the north-east and east.
Why is rabies immunoglobulin so hard to find?
Rabies immunoglobulin is given into the wound for severe, category III bites. Only 95 of 467 public facilities in the ICMR survey had it, or 20.3%. Most of those used equine immunoglobulin.
Access drops sharply at the first point of care. RIG was available at 5.9% of primary facilities, 47.9% of secondary facilities and 69.2% of medical college hospitals. Only one of 56 urban primary health centres had it.
Source: Krishna et al, Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia 2025. Survey 2022-23.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| ARV: district hospitals | 94.7% |
| ARV: medical college hospitals | 92.3% |
| ARV: urban PHCs | 58.9% |
| RIG: medical college hospitals | 69.2% |
| RIG: secondary care | 47.9% |
| RIG: primary care | 5.9% |
| RIG: urban PHCs | 1.8% |
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Private facilities did better on RIG in the sample. Of 44 private facilities giving ARV, 54.5% also had immunoglobulin. Half of those used human immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies rather than the equine product.
Southern states again led on RIG, with 27 of 88 public facilities (30.7%) stocking it.
About one in five bite victims gets no vaccine
The ICMR community survey, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, found that 20.5% of dog bite victims got no anti-rabies vaccine at all.
Finishing the course is the bigger problem. Of 1,253 people who got at least one dose, 615, or 49.1%, did not complete the full course. Only 66.2% of bite victims got three or more doses.
Source: Thangaraj et al, Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025. 1,576 people bitten by dogs in the past year.
Show the numbers
| Label | % |
|---|---|
| Got any ARV | 79.5% |
| Got 3+ doses | 66.2% |
| Got no ARV | 20.5% |
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- Most people rely on government clinics. 89.5% of those vaccinated got ARV from a public facility, as reported by The South First.
- Reminders are rare. Only 31.2% of public facilities with ARV followed up bite victims for later doses, and 23.9% gave a vaccination card.
- Training is patchy. Fewer than half (45.4%) of public facilities with ARV had a staff member recently trained under the rabies programme.
Missed and unfinished courses are a main reason the ICMR team estimates about 5,726 rabies deaths a year. Our dog bite and rabies statistics report explains that estimate.
Little data by state
The Health Minister told the Lok Sabha in July 2026 that data on how many people received anti-rabies vaccine is not maintained centrally. Procurement and distribution are a state responsibility.
What can be compared by state is demand and programme status. The table below shows 2024 dog bites, bites per day, whether the state has a rabies action plan, and whether helpline 15400 covers it.
dogeats.in calculation: IDSP 2024 dog bite cases divided by 366 days. Source: Lok Sabha USQ 4870, 1 April 2025.
Show the numbers
| Label | per day |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 1,326 |
| Tamil Nadu | 1,313 |
| Gujarat | 1,073 |
| Karnataka | 988 |
| Bihar | 721 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 670 |
| Odisha | 456 |
| Assam | 454 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 448 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 391 |
| Rajasthan | 384 |
| Telangana | 333 |
| Kerala | 314 |
| West Bengal | 209 |
| Haryana | 165 |
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| State/UT | Dog bites 2024 | Bites per day | Bites per lakh people | State rabies action plan | Helpline 15400 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 4,85,345 | 1,326 | 381 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Tamil Nadu | 4,80,427 | 1,313 | 623 | Launched | No |
| Gujarat | 3,92,837 | 1,073 | 543 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Karnataka | 3,61,494 | 988 | 531 | Launched | No |
| Bihar | 2,63,930 | 721 | 205 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Andhra Pradesh | 2,45,174 | 670 | 460 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | Yes |
| Odisha | 1,66,792 | 456 | 376 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | No |
| Assam | 1,66,232 | 454 | 461 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | Yes |
| Uttar Pradesh | 1,64,009 | 448 | 69 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Madhya Pradesh | 1,42,948 | 391 | 163 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | Yes |
| Rajasthan | 1,40,543 | 384 | 172 | Launched | No |
| Telangana | 1,21,997 | 333 | 319 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | No |
| Kerala | 1,15,046 | 314 | 320 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| West Bengal | 76,486 | 209 | 77 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Haryana | 60,417 | 165 | 198 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Jammu & Kashmir | 51,027 | 139 | 372 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Jharkhand | 43,874 | 120 | 110 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | No |
| Chhattisgarh | 38,268 | 105 | 125 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Delhi | 25,210 | 69 | 116 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | Yes |
| Uttarakhand | 23,091 | 63 | 196 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Punjab | 22,912 | 63 | 74 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Himachal Pradesh | 22,909 | 63 | 305 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Meghalaya | 17,784 | 49 | 526 | Launched | No |
| Goa | 17,236 | 47 | 1089 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Puducherry | 12,148 | 33 | 722 | Launched | Yes |
| Tripura | 9,641 | 26 | 230 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Manipur | 9,257 | 25 | 285 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | No |
| Chandigarh | 8,644 | 24 | 695 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Sikkim | 8,601 | 24 | 1238 | Not launched (Apr 2025) | No |
| DNH & Daman Diu | 7,926 | 22 | 584 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Arunachal Pradesh | 6,388 | 17 | 405 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Ladakh | 4,078 | 11 | 1350 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
| Mizoram | 1,873 | 5 | 150 | Launched | No |
| Nagaland | 714 | 2 | 32 | Launched | No |
| Andaman & Nicobar | 455 | 1 | 113 | Drafting (Apr 2025) | No |
Action plan status combines two replies. The April 2025 Lok Sabha answer named launched, pending and drafting states. The July 2026 reply listed seven launched plans, adding Karnataka and Nagaland.
What states are doing
Several states have gone beyond the national baseline. Karnataka's health department ordered all government hospitals in October 2023 to give ARV and RIG free to every animal bite victim, regardless of ration card. Rabies became notifiable in Karnataka on 5 December 2022.
Kerala is spending more on human rabies biologicals. Onmanorama reported in November 2025 that the state would buy anti-rabies vaccines worth Rs 28 crore that year, with Rs 14 crore each for intradermal vaccine and immunoglobulin.
| State or city | Action | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | ARV and RIG free for all animal bite victims in government hospitals | Oct 2023 | Health department circular, via PTI |
| Karnataka | Human rabies made a notifiable disease | Dec 2022 | Health department, via PTI |
| Kerala | Rs 28 crore for human ARV and RIG, Rs 14 crore each | 2025-26 | State government, via Onmanorama |
| Delhi (MCD) | 5,471 ARV and 3,736 ARS doses in stock at MCD hospitals and polyclinics | Aug 2025 | MCD data, via PTI |
| Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Meghalaya, Mizoram | State Action Plan for Rabies Elimination launched | By Apr 2025 | Lok Sabha USQ 4870 |
| Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Assam | Rabies helpline 15400 live | By Jul 2026 | Lok Sabha reply, via Daily Excelsior |
Delhi's stock figure shows the scale problem. MCD recorded 68,090 dog bites in 2024, while its hospitals and polyclinics held 5,471 ARV doses in August 2025, as reported by PTI.
Anti-rabies clinics
Nobody publishes a full count. Most government hospitals and many primary health centres give ARV without a separate clinic. The national programme counts only the model anti-rabies clinics it funds in districts.
There were 279 operational model clinics in April 2025, set up over the previous three years. The Health Minister put the figure at 284 in July 2026. No state-wise split has been published.
Sources: Lok Sabha USQ 4870 (1 Apr 2025); Lok Sabha reply of July 2026 via Daily Excelsior.
Show the numbers
| Label | count |
|---|---|
| Model clinics, Apr 2025 | 279 |
| Model clinics, Jul 2026 | 284 |
| Rabies labs strengthened | 14 |
| States with action plan, Jul 2026 | 7 |
| States with helpline 15400 | 5 |
Embed this chart
The Supreme Court's May 2026 judgment requires one fully functional ABC centre in every district, but sets no such count for anti-rabies clinics. Its compliance format does ask every state to report ARV and immunoglobulin availability.
The Supreme Court order on vaccine stocks
On 7 November 2025 the Supreme Court directed all government and private hospitals to keep a mandatory stock of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin at all times. The order came in its suo motu case on stray dog attacks.
Its 19 May 2026 judgment went further. States and UTs must ensure ARV and immunoglobulin are available in all government medical facilities, and report it in a compliance format.
- Item 18 of the court's compliance format: availability of anti-rabies vaccines.
- Item 19: availability of anti-rabies immunoglobulin.
- Item 25: creation of a helpline number for reporting dog bite incidents.
- These affidavits, once filed, could give the first state-by-state picture of rabies vaccine access.
For how bites and street dog numbers vary across states, see our street dog population report. For pet vaccination costs, see our vet and vaccination cost report.
Frequently asked questions
Is the rabies vaccine free in government hospitals in India?
Yes. Anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin are free in public health facilities under the National Free Drug Initiative of the National Health Mission. Stock can still run out, so call ahead if you can.
How many government health facilities have the rabies vaccine?
An ICMR survey found anti-rabies vaccine at 79.7% of 467 public facilities checked in 2022 and 2023. District hospitals had it 94.7% of the time and urban primary health centres 58.9%.
Where can I get rabies immunoglobulin in India?
Medical college hospitals are the most likely place. The ICMR survey found immunoglobulin at 69.2% of them, 47.9% of secondary hospitals and 5.9% of primary facilities. Many private hospitals also stock it.
Which region has the worst access to rabies vaccine?
The north-eastern states. Only 60% of public facilities surveyed there had anti-rabies vaccine, against 93.2% in the south. The east and north-east also used the dose-saving intradermal method least.
Is there a shortage of rabies vaccine in India?
The Health Minister told the Lok Sabha in July 2026 there was no nationwide shortage, though temporary local shortages can occur. In the ICMR survey, 25.8% of public facilities with ARV had run out at least once in a year.
How many people do not complete the rabies vaccine course?
In the ICMR community survey, 49.1% of people who got at least one dose did not complete the full course. Another 20.5% of dog bite victims got no vaccine at all.
Is there a rabies helpline in India?
Yes, the national rabies helpline is 15400. As of July 2026 it served five states and UTs: Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.
Does the government publish state-wise rabies vaccine data?
No. The Centre told the Lok Sabha in July 2026 that vaccination data is not maintained centrally. The Supreme Court has asked states to report vaccine and immunoglobulin availability in compliance affidavits.
Methodology and limitations
Facility availability figures come from the ICMR-NIE national health facility survey (Krishna et al, Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia, 2025). It covered 534 facilities in 60 districts of 15 states. Bite victim vaccination figures come from the companion community survey in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
State-level demand uses IDSP dog bite counts for 2024 from Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4870. Bites per day and per lakh people are dogeats.in calculations, using RGI-NCP projected population for 1 March 2024.
Programme status comes from parliamentary replies. Where we could only read a reply through a news report, the table names that outlet.
Sources
- Krishna et al, The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia 2025 (ICMR-NIE facility survey), ARV and RIG availability by zone and facility type, stockouts, regimens
- Thangaraj et al, The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025 (ICMR-NIE community survey), Share of bite victims with no ARV or incomplete courses
- Lok Sabha Unstarred Question 4870, DAHD, 1 April 2025, Model anti-rabies clinics, labs, action plans, helpline, state dog bites
- Also consulted: PIB, Rajya Sabha reply on steps to strengthen rabies treatment, 19 August 2025, PIB, Lok Sabha reply on rabies vaccination, 29 November 2019, Daily Excelsior, 24 July 2026, ETV Bharat, 24 March 2026, The Week, 22 October 2025, Business Standard, 30 July 2024, Supreme Court of India, judgment of 19 May 2026, PTI via The South First, 7 October 2023, Onmanorama, 9 November 2025, PTI via The Week, 11 August 2025, The South First, National Rabies Control Programme, NCDC, NAPRE national action plan, MoHFW and MoFAHD, Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections 2011 to 2036.
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